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Python Add/Remove Dictionaries Items

Python Tutorial

Introduction

Python Data Types & Oper...

Python Strings

Python Lists

Python Tuples

Python Sets

Python Dictionaries

Conditional Statements

Python Loops

Python Functions

Python Modules

Python OOPS

Advanced Topics

File Handling

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Python Add/Remove Dictionaries Items

Add and Remove Items in Dictionaries

Dictionaries in Python aren’t just for storing data — you can also add or remove items at any time. Let’s learn how to do that step by step.

Adding Items to a Dictionary

You can add new data into a dictionary in two simple ways:

1. Assigning a New Key

If the key doesn’t already exist, Python will create it.

				
					profile = {'username': 'ammar42', 'level': 5, 'active': True}

print("Before adding:", profile)

profile['joined_year'] = 2022

print("After adding:", profile)

Output:

				
					Before adding: {'username': 'ammar42', 'level': 5, 'active': True}
After adding: {'username': 'ammar42', 'level': 5, 'active': True, 'joined_year': 2022}

2. Using the update() Method

This method is great for adding or updating values in one go.

				
					profile = {'username': 'ammar42', 'level': 5, 'active': True}

print("Before update:", profile)

profile.update({'level': 6})              # Update existing key
profile.update({'country': 'Pakistan'})   # Add new key

print("After update:", profile)

Output:

				
					Before update: {'username': 'ammar42', 'level': 5, 'active': True}
After update: {'username': 'ammar42', 'level': 6, 'active': True, 'country': 'Pakistan'}

Removing Items from a Dictionary

Python gives you several tools to remove data when it’s no longer needed.

1. clear() — Remove Everything

This wipes out the dictionary, leaving it empty.

				
					student = {'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A', 'passed': True}
student.clear()

print(student)

Output:

{}

2. pop() — Remove Specific Item

Give the key, and this method removes that pair.

				
					student = {'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A', 'passed': True}
student.pop('passed')

print(student)

Output:

				
					{'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A'}

3. popitem() — Remove the Last Pair

It deletes the last item that was added to the dictionary.

				
					student = {'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A', 'year': 2023}
student.popitem()

print(student)

Output:

				
					{'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A'}

4. del Keyword — Remove by Key or Entirely

Use del if you want to delete a particular key or even the entire dictionary.

				
					student = {'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A', 'year': 2023}
del student['grade']

print(student)

Output:

				
					{'name': 'Alina', 'year': 2023}

If you remove the whole dictionary:

				
					student = {'name': 'Alina', 'grade': 'A'}
del student

print(student)

Output:

				
					NameError: name 'student' is not defined

Summary

Add new items by assigning a key or using .update().
Remove specific items with pop() or del.
Use clear() to empty the dictionary.
Use popitem() to remove the last item.

With these tools, you can manage your dictionary like a pro!