Python Delete Variable – How to Delete Variables with del Keyword

In Python, we can easily delete a variable with the del keyword. The del keyword deletes variables in your Python code.

string = "this is a string"

del string

print(string)

#Output:
Error: string is not defined

When working in Python, sometimes it makes sense to be able to delete a variable or delete multiple variables in your program.

The Python del keyword allows us to delete objects. We can use the del keyword to delete variables, user-defined objects, lists, items within lists, and dictionaries.

For example, let’s say we have a simple string variable. We can delete it with the Python del keyword as shown in the following code. When you try to access the string variable after deleting it, you receive an error.

string = "this is a string"

del string

print(string)

#Output:
Error: string is not defined

The rest of this article will show you various examples in Python of how to delete variables in your Python programs.

How to Delete a Variable in Python with del Keyword

In Python, we can delete any variable with del.

Below are a handful of examples of how you can use del to delete a string variable or a float variable.

string = "this is a string"
float = 10

del string
del float

print(string)
print(float)

#Output:
Error: string is not defined
Error: float is not defined

Deleting Dictionary Variables in Python with del Keyword

You can also delete dictionary variables in Python easily.

Below is an example of how you can delete a dictionary variable using the del keyword in Python.

dict = {"name":"Kelly", "height":55}

del dict

print(dict)

#Output:
Error: dict is not defined

Deleting Lists in Python with del Keyword

You can also delete list variables in Python easily.

Below is an example of how you can delete a dictionary variable using the del keyword in Python.

list = [0,1,2,3]

del list

print(list)

#Output:
Error: list is not defined

Hopefully this article has been useful for you to understand how you can delete variables in Python with the del keyword.