Python 3 reference · Dictionary Methods

Python Dictionary popitem() Method

Remove and return the last inserted (key, value) pair (LIFO order). Raises KeyError if the dict is empty.

Syntax

dict.popitem()

A (key, value) tuple.

Remove the newest itemTry it yourself

d = {"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3}
print(d.popitem(), d)

Output

('c', 3) {'a': 1, 'b': 2}

Drain a dictionaryTry it yourself

tasks = {"t1": "write", "t2": "test"}
while tasks:
    key, task = tasks.popitem()
    print(key, task)

Output

t2 test
t1 write

Version	Change
Python 3.0	Added
Python 3.7	Guaranteed to remove the last inserted item (LIFO).

dict.pop() · Remove a key and return its value. Returns the default if given and the key is missing; otherwise raises KeyError.
dict.clear() · Remove every key and value from the dictionary in place, leaving it empty. Other references see the change too.
Python Dictionaries · tutorial