del

In Python, the del keyword deletes names from a given scope or namespace. This includes variables, list items, and dictionary keys, among other objects. It helps you manage memory by freeing up space taken by unnecessary objects.

Python del Keyword Examples

Here’s a quick example showing how to use del to remove an item from a list:

Python 
>>> numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
>>> del numbers[2]
>>> numbers
[1, 2, 4, 5]

In this example, the del keyword removes the item at index 2 from numbers, which is the number 3. After the deletion, numbers contains the elements [1, 2, 4, 5].

You can also use del to delete variables:

Python 
>>> x = 10
>>> del x
>>> x
Traceback (most recent call last):
    ...
NameError: name 'x' is not defined

In this case, del removes the variable x, and trying to access x afterward raises a NameError exception.

Python del Keyword Use Cases

  • Remove specific items from a list or entire lists
  • Delete dictionary entries or entire dictionaries
  • Free up memory by deleting variables that are no longer needed
Python's del: Remove References From Scopes and Containers

Tutorial

Python's del: Remove References From Scopes and Containers

In this tutorial, you'll learn how Python's del statement works and how to use it in your code. This statement will allow you to remove references from different scopes, items from lists, keys from dictionaries, and members from classes. This will lead to potentially memory-efficient code.

basics best-practices python

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

By Leodanis Pozo Ramos • Updated Jan. 6, 2025 • Reviewed by Dan Bader
Python Keywords Share Feedback