Python Dictionary `pop()` Method

dict.pop() removes a key from a dictionary and returns the value that was stored under that key.

This method is useful when you want to delete a key and still keep its value for later use. It is also a common way to remove a key safely when you provide a default value.

Quick answer

person = {"name": "Ana", "age": 25}
removed_age = person.pop("age")
print(removed_age)   # 25
print(person)        # {'name': 'Ana'}

# Safe version with default value
country = person.pop("country", "Not found")
print(country)       # Not found

Use pop(key) to remove a key and get its value. Use pop(key, default) to avoid a KeyError when the key might not exist.

What `dict.pop()` does

dict.pop():

Removes one key from a dictionary
Returns the value that belonged to that key
Changes the original dictionary
Works only with dictionary keys, not positions

Example:

user = {"name": "Liam", "city": "Paris"}

removed_city = user.pop("city")

print(removed_city)  # Paris
print(user)          # {'name': 'Liam'}

Here, "city" is the key being removed. The method returns its value, which is "Paris".

Basic syntax

There are two common forms:

my_dict.pop(key)
my_dict.pop(key, default)

dict.pop(key) removes the key if it exists
dict.pop(key) raises KeyError if the key is missing
dict.pop(key, default) returns the default value if the key is missing
The second form is safer when you are not sure the key exists

Example:

scores = {"math": 90, "science": 85}

print(scores.pop("math"))         # 90
print(scores.pop("history", 0))   # 0
print(scores)                     # {'science': 85}

Return value

pop() does not return the updated dictionary.

Instead, it returns:

The removed value when the key exists
The default value if you provided one and the key is missing

Example:

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

result1 = data.pop("a")
result2 = data.pop("c", "missing")

print(result1)  # 10
print(result2)  # missing
print(data)     # {'b': 20}

If you only want to read a value without removing it, use dict.get() instead.

When to use `pop()`

Use pop() when:

You want to remove a key and keep its value
You are processing dictionary data step by step
You are cleaning or extracting values from a dictionary

Example:

product = {"name": "Laptop", "price": 1200, "discount": 200}

discount_amount = product.pop("discount", 0)

final_price = product["price"] - discount_amount

print(discount_amount)  # 200
print(final_price)      # 1000
print(product)          # {'name': 'Laptop', 'price': 1200}

This is helpful when you want to take one piece of data out and then continue working with the remaining dictionary.

`pop()` vs `del`

Both pop() and del can remove a key from a dictionary, but they are not the same.

Use `pop()` when you need the removed value

person = {"name": "Ana", "age": 25}

age = person.pop("age")

print(age)     # 25
print(person)  # {'name': 'Ana'}

Use `del` when you only want deletion

person = {"name": "Ana", "age": 25}

del person["age"]

print(person)  # {'name': 'Ana'}

Difference:

pop() removes a key and returns its value
del removes a key but does not return the value

If your goal is simply to remove a key, see how to remove a key from a dictionary in Python.

How to avoid `KeyError`

A common beginner problem is trying to remove a key that does not exist.

Option 1: Use a default value

my_dict = {"name": "Sara"}

value = my_dict.pop("age", None)

print(value)   # None
print(my_dict) # {'name': 'Sara'}

This is the safest and shortest option.

Option 2: Check first

my_dict = {"name": "Sara"}

if "age" in my_dict:
    value = my_dict.pop("age")
    print(value)
else:
    print("Key not found")

Option 3: Use `get()` if you do not want to remove anything

my_dict = {"name": "Sara"}

value = my_dict.get("age", None)

print(value)   # None
print(my_dict) # {'name': 'Sara'}

Use dict.get() when you only need to read a value. If you are seeing this error already, read KeyError in Python: causes and fixes.

Common beginner mistakes

Here are some mistakes that happen often with dict.pop().

Thinking `pop()` removes by position like a list

Lists use indexes:

numbers = [10, 20, 30]
print(numbers.pop(1))  # 20

Dictionaries use keys:

person = {"name": "Ana", "age": 25}
print(person.pop("age"))  # 25

A dictionary does not use positions with pop(). It uses keys.

Forgetting that `pop()` changes the original dictionary

data = {"x": 1, "y": 2}

value = data.pop("x")

print(value)  # 1
print(data)   # {'y': 2}

After pop(), the key is gone from the same dictionary object.

Using `pop()` on a missing key without a default value

data = {"name": "Mia"}

# This causes an error
# data.pop("age")

Safer version:

data = {"name": "Mia"}

print(data.pop("age", "missing"))  # missing

Expecting `pop()` to return the whole dictionary

data = {"a": 1, "b": 2}

result = data.pop("a")

print(result)  # 1
print(data)    # {'b': 2}

The return value is the removed value, not the updated dictionary.

Common causes of problems

Problems with dict.pop() often happen because of one of these reasons:

Using a key that does not exist in the dictionary
Mixing up list pop(index) with dictionary pop(key)
Removing data that is still needed later in the code
Using the wrong key type, such as 1 instead of "1"

Example of wrong key type:

data = {"1": "one"}

print(data.pop(1, "not found"))    # not found
print(data.pop("1", "not found"))  # one

1 and "1" are different keys.

Helpful debugging checks

If pop() is not working the way you expect, these quick checks can help:

print(my_dict)
print(my_dict.keys())
print('name' in my_dict)
print(my_dict.pop('name', 'missing'))
print(type(my_dict))

What these checks tell you:

print(my_dict) shows the current dictionary contents
print(my_dict.keys()) shows all available keys
print('name' in my_dict) checks whether a key exists
print(my_dict.pop('name', 'missing')) tests safe removal
print(type(my_dict)) confirms that the object is really a dictionary

If you need to understand dictionary basics first, see creating a dictionary in Python.

FAQ

Does dictionary `pop()` return the key or the value?

It returns the value for the removed key.

What happens if the key does not exist?

pop(key) raises KeyError. pop(key, default) returns the default value instead.

Does `pop()` change the original dictionary?

Yes. It removes the key from the existing dictionary.

Can I use `pop()` to remove the last item in a dictionary?

Not with dict.pop(). To remove the last inserted key-value pair, use popitem().

What is the difference between `get()` and `pop()`?

get() reads a value without removing it. pop() reads and removes it.

Python Dictionary pop() Method

Python Dictionary `pop()` Method