list.append() Append element
Last updated: 2026-09-22
list.append() Append element
list.append(item) appends item to the end; mutates in place, returns None.
| Category | List Methods |
|---|---|
| Kind | Built-in Type Method |
| Python Version | all |
📝 Syntax
list.append(item)⚙️ Parameters
| item Required | The element to append to the end of the list. |
|---|
Returns：None (modifies the list in place).
Mutates the original：Yes (in place)
▶ Example
Edit the code, press Run, and see the result in the output panel:
Output：
[1, 2, 3]💡 Related Cases
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❓ FAQ
QWhat does append() return?
AIt returns None! It modifies the list in place, so never write a = a.append(x), which would turn a into None.
QWhat is the difference between append() and extend()?
Aappend() adds the whole element as a single element; extend() expands the iterable and adds its items one by one. lst.append([1, 2]) gives [[1, 2]], while lst.extend([1, 2]) gives [1, 2].
QWhat happens when appending a string?
Aappend('abc') adds 'abc' as one whole element; to add the characters individually use extend('abc').
QDoes append() modify in place?
AYes, it directly modifies the original list object, so other variables referencing the same list also see the change without reassignment.
