How to Create a List from a Char and Remove an Element in Python

Learn how to effectively create a list from a character string in Python and remove a specified element without errors.
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This video is based on the question stackoverflow.com/q/65891595/ asked by the user 'Alex Man' ( stackoverflow.com/u/5909849/ ) and on the answer stackoverflow.com/a/65891651/ provided by the user 'Mahrad Hanaforoosh' ( stackoverflow.com/u/11988587/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Create a List from a Char and Remove an Element in Python

In Python, creating a list from a character string and then removing a specific element from that list can seem tricky, especially if you're running into unexpected behavior when attempting to modify the list. If you've encountered an issue where trying to remove an element from the list doesn’t work as intended (for example, it returns None), you’re in the right place!

The Problem

You might be using a function that creates a list based on a string and then attempts to remove a specified element from that list. However, the remove method in Python modifies the original list in-place and does not return a new list. This can lead to confusion if you expect to receive a new list with the item removed.

Example of the Issue

Here’s an example of how you might have written your function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When you run this function with an input:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You’d see the output indicating that the list is created, the element exists, but the final list after removal is None. This happens because remove() doesn’t return anything — it simply modifies the existing list.

The Solution

To resolve the issue, you just need to make a slight modification to the function. Here’s the corrected version:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Changes Made

Removed the assignment of new_list when using my_list.remove(remove_elem). This allows the original list to be modified properly without losing its reference.

Output of the Corrected Function

Now, when you run this updated function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You should see the output:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The list correctly reflects the removal of the specified element (IJKL), and the function returns the modified list.

More Info

The remove method in Python lists does not return a new list; instead, it permanently changes the existing list. It’s essential to remember this behavior to avoid confusion in your programs.

Following these guidelines will help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your Python code works as intended. Happy coding!