Append Elements to Empty List in Python

In Python, lists are used to store multiple items in one variable. If we have an empty list and we want to add elements to it, we can do that in a few simple ways. The simplest way to add an item in empty list is by using the append() method. This method adds a single element to the end of the list.

a = []
# Append an element to the list
a.append(10)
print(a)

[10]

Other methods that we can use to append elements to a list are:

Using + Operator to Concatenate Lists

Another way to add elements to an empty list is by using the + operator. We can concatenate the original list with another list containing the element we want to add.

# Create an empty list
a = []
# Concatenate the list with a new list containing the element
a = a + [20]
print(a)

[20]

Using extend() Method

The extend() method allows us to add multiple elements to a list. We can use it if we want to add more than one item at a time.

a = []
# Extend the list by adding multiple elements
a.extend([30, 40, 50])
print(a)

[30, 40, 50]

Using List Unpacking

List unpacking is a more advanced method but it’s still a great option to add elements to a list.

a = []
#Use list unpacking to add an element
a = [*a, 60]
print(a)

[60]