Getting the last element of the list is a simple task in Python. However, there are several ways to do this, which can confuse beginners. In this article, we will show you the most efficient way to get the last element of the list using Python.

Working with lists is necessary when dealing with data manipulation, data analysis, or web development. There are various list operations that you can perform in Python, one of which is getting the last element of the list.

Using the Python Indexing Method

The most common way to get the last element of the list is by using the indexing method. Python has a built-in function that allows you to access a specific element of a list by its index. For example, the index of the first element in the list is 0, while the index of the last element is -1.

Here is the Python program to get the last element of the list using the indexing method:

				
					my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
last_element = my_list[-1]
print(last_element)

Output:

				
					5

We created a list named “my_list” in the above program with five elements. We then accessed the last element of the list by using the index -1 and stored it in the variable “last_element.” Finally, we printed the value of the variable “last_element,” which is the last element of the list.

Using the Python pop() Method

Another way to get the last element of the list is by using the pop() method. The pop() method removes the last element of the list and returns its value. For example, here is the Python program to get the last element of the list using the pop() method:

				
					my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
last_element = my_list.pop()
print(last_element)

Output:

				
					5

We created a list named “my_list” in the above program with five elements. We then used the pop() method to remove the last element of the list and stored its value in the variable “last_element.” Finally, we printed the value of the variable “last_element,” which is the last element of the list.

Using the Python Negative Indexing Method

Another way to get the last element of the list is by using negative indexing. In Python, negative indexing allows you to access a list’s elements from the end. The index of the last element in the list is -1, the index of the second-last element is -2, and so on.

Here is the Python program to get the last element of the list using negative indexing:

				
					my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
last_element = my_list[len(my_list)-1]
print(last_element)

Output:

				
					5

We created a list named “my_list” in the above program with five elements. We then accessed the last element of the list by using the negative index -1 and stored it in the variable “last_element.” Finally, we printed the value of the variable “last_element,” which is the last element of the list.

Getting the last element of the list is a common task in Python programming. This article shows you the most efficient ways to get the last part of the list using Python. Depending on your requirements, you can use any of the above methods to get the last element of the list.


Thanks for reading. Happy coding!