Methods and Functions

Python Set pop()

Python programming language offers you various built-in functions to remove elements from data sequences like sets. One such function is the Python set pop() method, which removes a random element from a set.

Python set pop

pop() Parameters

As the pop() method performs arbitrary deletions, it does not accept any parameters. It follows the syntax:

set.pop()

Return Value from pop()

The Python set pop() method returns the element that it randomly removes. The set is automatically updated without the removed element. The Python interpreter raises a TypeError exception if the set you try to pop is empty.

Example of how pop() works in Python Sets

Here is an example of how the pop() method works:

                    

# creating set
A = {'e', 'v', 'e', 'r', 'y', 't', 'i', 'm', 'e', 'g'}

res = A.pop() # pops a random element

print ('The popped element is:', res)
print ('The set now is:', A)

Output:

                    

The popped element is: m
The set now is: {'v', 'g', 'r', 't', 'y', 'i', 'e'}

Note that you will get a different result every time you run the program as pop() returns and removes a random element.

Questions and Answers

Q1. How do you pop an element from a set in Python?

You can pop/remove an element from a Python set through the pop() and remove() methods. You can use the Python set pop() to remove an arbitrary element and remove() to remove a specific element.

                    

# creating set
A = {'e', 'v', 'e', 'r', 'y', 't', 'i', 'm', 'e', 'g'}

# removing element using pop()
random = A.pop()

# removing element using remove()
spec = A.remove('r')

print ('Random popped element:', random)
print ('Specific removed element:', spec)
print ('The current set:', A)

Output:

                    

Random popped element: y
Specific removed element: None
The current set: {'i', 'g', 'v', 'm', 'e', 't'}

The remove() method returns None, which indicates the specified element is removed.

Q2. Is Python Set pop random?

Yes, the Python set pop() method randomly chooses an element from a set and removes it. The method returns the removed element.

Q3. What does pop() do in Python?

The Python set pop() method allows you to remove/pop a random element from a set. The method returns the element and automatically updates the set. If the set is empty, the Python interpreter raises a TypeError exception.

                    

# creating set
A = {2, 3, 7, 8, 45, 76}

print ('Pop:', A.pop)
print ('Set:', A)

# empty set
B = set()
print (B.pop())

Output:

                    

Pop: 2
Set: {3, 7, 8, 76, 45}
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 8, in 
KeyError: 'pop from an empty set'

Q4. How do you pop in Python?

You can pop an element in Python by using the pop() method. The method works differently for different sequences.

Example:

                    

# set
A = {2, 3, 7, 8, 45, 76}

print ('Popped:', A.pop()) # removes a random element
print ('Set:', A)

# dictionary
grades = { 'Science': 'A', 'Social': 'A', 'Math': 'B', 'English': 'A' }

print ('Value of popped key is:', grades.pop('Social')) 
print ('The dictionary now is', grades) 
# removes specified element and returns its value

# list
lis = [6, 7, 32, 56]

print ('Popped element in list is:', lis.pop(3))
print ('Current list:', lis)
# removes specified index and returns its value

Output:

                    

Popped: 2
Set: {3, 7, 8, 76, 45}
Value of popped key is: A
The dictionary now is {'Science': 'A', 'Math': 'B', 'English': 'A'}
Popped element in list is: 56
Current list: [6, 7, 32]

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