Adding Items to Arrays in Python: Methods and Techniques

Discover how to add items to Python arrays using various methods like append(), insert(), and extend(). This guide explains how to manipulate and combine arrays with practical examples and code snippets.

Python - Add Array Items

Python arrays are mutable sequences, meaning they can be changed. Items of the same data type can be added to an array. You can also join two arrays of the same data type.

Python uses the array module for array functionality.

Adding Elements to Python Array

There are multiple ways to add elements to an array in Python:

  • Using append() method
  • Using insert() method
  • Using extend() method

Using append() Method

The append() method adds a new element at the end of an array. It accepts a single item as an argument.

Syntax

import array as arr
a = arr.array('i', [1, 2, 3])
a.append(10)
print(a)
Output

array('i', [1, 2, 3, 10])

Using insert() Method

The insert() method adds a new element at a specified index. It accepts two parameters: the index and the value.

Syntax

import array as arr
a = arr.array('i', [1, 2, 3])
a.insert(1, 20)
print(a)
Output

array('i', [1, 20, 2, 3])

Using extend() Method

The extend() method adds all elements from an iterable or another array of the same data type.

Syntax

import array as arr
a = arr.array('i', [1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
b = arr.array('i', [6, 7, 8, 9, 10])
a.extend(b)
print(a)
Output

array('i', [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10])