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How to get the last element of a list in Python?
In this article, we will show you how to get the last element of the input list using python. Now we see 4 methods to accomplish this task −
Using negative indexing
Using slicing
Using pop() method
Using For loop
Assume we have taken a list containing some elements. We will return the last element of the given input list using different methods as specified above.
Method 1: Using negative indexing
Python allows for "indexing from the end," i.e., negative indexing.
This means that the last value in a sequence has an index of −1, the second last has an index of −2, and so on.
When you want to pick values from the end (right side) of an iterable, you can utilize negative indexing to your benefit
Syntax
list[len − 1]: By definition, points to the last element. list[−1]: Negative indexing starting from the end
Algorithm (Steps)
Following are the Algorithm/steps to be followed to perform the desired task −
Create a variable to store the input list
Get the last element of the list using the “length of list - 1” as an index and print the resultant last element of the list.
Get the last element of the list using − 1(negative indexing) as the index and print the resultant last element of the list.
Example
The following program returns the last element of the input list using negative indexing −
# input list inputList = [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] # printing input list print("Input list:", inputList) # getting the last element of the list using the length of the list - 1 as an index(Here list index starts from 0 so list length -1 gives the index of the last element of the list) print("Last element of the input list using len(list)-1 as index = ", inputList[len(inputList) - 1]) # getting the last element of the list using - 1 as the index print("Last element of the input list using -1 as index = ", inputList[-1])
Output
On executing, the above program will generate the following output −
Input list: [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] Last element of the input list using len(list)-1 as index = 3 Last element of the input list using -1 as index = 3
Method 2: Using slicing
List slicing is a frequent practice in Python, and it is the most commonly utilized way for programmers to solve efficient problems. Consider a Python list. To access a range of elements in a list, you must slice it. One method is to utilize the simple slicing operator, i.e. colon (:)
With this operator, one can define where to begin slicing, where to end slicing and the step. List slicing creates a new list from an old one.
Syntax
List[ start : end : step]
Parameters
start- index from where to start
end - ending index
step - numbers of jumps to take in between i.e stepsize
Algorithm (Steps)
Following are the Algorithm/steps to be followed to perform the desired task −
Get the last element of the input list using slicing and create a variable to store it.
inputList[-1:][0] represents getting the first element by slicing it from the end of the list
Print the last element of the input list.
Example
The following program returns the last element of the input list using slicing −
# input list inputList = [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] # printing input list print("Input list:", inputList) # getting the last element of the list using slicing lastElement = inputList[-1:][0] # printing the last element of the list print("Last element of the input list = ", lastElement)
Output
Input list: [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] Last element of the input list = 3
Method 3: Using pop() method
Algorithm (Steps)
Following are the Algorithm/steps to be followed to perform the desired task −
Give the input list
Using the pop() function (removes the last element from a list and returns it), for getting the last element of the list
print the resultant last element of the list.
Example
The following program returns the last element of the input list using the pop() function −
# input list inputList = [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] # printing input list print("Input list:", inputList) # getting the last element of the list using pop() method print("Last element of the input list = ", inputList.pop())
Output
Input list: [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] Last element of the input list = 3
Method 4: Using For loop
Algorithm (Steps)
Following are the Algorithm/steps to be followed to perform the desired task −
Use the for loop, to traverse till the length of the list using the len() function (The number of items in an object is returned by the len() method)
Use the if conditional statement, to check whether the iterator value is equal to the length of the list -1.
Print the corresponding element of the list, if the condition is true.
Example
The following program returns the last element of the input list using the for loop −
# input list inputList = [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] # printing input list print("Input list:", inputList) # Traversing till the length of the list for k in range(0, len(inputList)): # Checking whether the iterator value is equal to the length of list -1(last element) # Here == is used to check whether the iterator value is equal to list length-1 if k == (len(inputList)-1): # Printing the corresponding element of the list, # if the condition is true print("Last element of the input list = ", inputList[k])
Output
Input list: [5, 1, 6, 8, 3] Last element of the input list = 3
Conclusion
We learned how to get the last element of a list using four different methods in this article: negative indexing, pop() function, negative indexing, and looping. We also learned how to use the pop() function to remove the last element from a list.
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