Here is my code:

a = ['a','b','c','d','e']

b = a.remove('b')

print(a)

print(b)

It prints that b is None. I also want b to be 'b'.

CodePudding user response：

Python list remove() function doesn't return anything - it removes the item (if found) in situ

To achieve your objective:

['a','b','c','d','e']
b = 'b'
a.remove(b)
print(a)
print(b)

CodePudding user response：

Python's remove() does not have a return value, so b is always None

Take a look at this snippet:

>>> a = ['a','b','c','d','e']
>>> print(a)
['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']
>>> a.remove("b")
>>> print(a)
['a', 'c', 'd', 'e']

CodePudding user response：

remove() removes the value from list but return None. You might need pop().

a = ['a','b','c','d','e']

b = a.pop(a.index("b"))

print(a)

print(b)

Output:

['a', 'c', 'd', 'e']
b

CodePudding user response：

Variable Vs function

b = a.remove('b')

This is a variable, a variable will do an action and store the result returned. Your variable removes b from the list a so b stores nothing as remove is an action (function) but doesn't return anything. Therefor nothing is stored. So when you call b you get nothing.

If you changed b into a function, now whenever you use b() b will be removed perminetantly from the list a. So later if you add b again to the list you can use b() function to remove it again.

This example removes then adds back b when you use function b()

Code:

alphabet = ['a','b','c','d','e']

print(alphabet)
def b(): # this is a function 
    alphabet.remove('b') #removes 'b'
    print(alphabet) #returns result to cons
    alphabet.insert(1, 'b')#adds b back
    return 
b() #functions need to be called to work
print(alphabet)

Now whenever you call b() it will be your alphabet without the first letter b in it.

This is an over the top explanation but I hope this helps you understand python better.