Python – Remove Dictionary Items

1. What Does “Remove Dictionary Items” Mean?

Removing dictionary items means deleting key–value pairs from a dictionary.

In simple words:
👉 We remove the key and its value together.

2. Remove Item Using pop()

pop() removes an item using its key name.

Example

student = {
"name": "Amit",
"age": 20,
"city": "Delhi"
}

student.pop("city")
print(student)

Safe Use

student.pop("phone", None)

👉 No error if key is missing.

3. Remove Last Item Using popitem()

popitem() removes the last inserted item.

Example

student.popitem()
print(student)

4. Remove Item Using del

del removes item by key.

Example

del student["age"]
print(student)

5. Remove All Items Using clear()

clear() removes all items but keeps the dictionary.

Example

student.clear()
print(student)

6. Delete Entire Dictionary

Example

del student

👉 After this, student does not exist.

7. Remove Items Using Loop (Condition Based)

Example

data = {
"a": 10,
"b": 20,
"c": 30
}

for key in list(data.keys()):
if data[key] > 15:
del data[key]

print(data)

8. Common Beginner Mistakes

❌ Removing Missing Key

student.pop("phone")

❌ Error.

✔ Use:

student.pop("phone", None)

❌ Changing Dictionary While Looping

for k in student:
del student[k]

✔ Use copy:

for k in list(student):
del student[k]

9. Simple Practice Examples

Example 1: Remove Product Price

product = {"name": "Mobile", "price": 15000}
product.pop("price")
print(product)

Example 2: Clear Dictionary

data = {"x": 1, "y": 2}
data.clear()
print(data)

Example 3: Remove Using del

person = {"name": "Ravi", "city": "Delhi"}
del person["city"]
print(person)

10. Summary (Remove Dictionary Items)

pop() removes by key
popitem() removes last item
del removes item or dictionary
clear() empties dictionary
✔ Always check key existence

📘 Perfect for Beginner eBook

This chapter is ideal for:

  • Python beginner books

  • School & college students

  • Self-learners

If you want next, I can write:

  • Loop Dictionaries

  • Dictionary Methods

  • Dictionary Exercises

  • Mini Projects

Just tell me 😊

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