Python Linked List: Delete the first item from a singly linked list

Last update on April 23 2025 12:56:41 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

6. Delete First Item in Singly Linked List

Write a Python program to delete the first item from a singly linked list.

Sample Solution:

Python Code:

class Node:
    # Singly linked node
    def __init__(self, data=None):
        self.data = data
        self.next = None
class singly_linked_list:
    def __init__(self):
        # Createe an empty list
        self.tail = None
        self.head = None
        self.count = 0

    def append_item(self, data):
        #Append items on the list
        node = Node(data)
        if self.head:
            self.head.next = node
            self.head = node
        else:
            self.tail = node
            self.head = node
        self.count += 1
    
    def delete_item(self, data):
        # Delete an item from the list
        current = self.tail
        prev = self.tail
        while current:
            if current.data == data:
                if current == self.tail:
                    self.tail = current.next
                else:
                    prev.next = current.next
                self.count -= 1
                return
            prev = current
            current = current.next
    def iterate_item(self):
        # Iterate the list.
        current_item = self.tail
        while current_item:
            val = current_item.data
            current_item = current_item.next
            yield val

items = singly_linked_list()
items.append_item('PHP')
items.append_item('Python')
items.append_item('C#')
items.append_item('C++')
items.append_item('Java')

print("Original list:")
for val in items.iterate_item():
    print(val)

print("\nAfter removing the first item from the list:")
items.delete_item('PHP')
for val in items.iterate_item():
    print(val)

Sample Output:

Original list:
PHP
Python
C#
C++
Java

After removing the first item from the list:
Python
C#
C++
Java

Flowchart:

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

Write a Python program to delete the first node of a singly linked list and then iterate over the modified list to print the remaining values.
Write a Python script to remove the head node from a singly linked list and return the new head, ensuring proper pointer updates.
Write a Python program to implement deletion of the first element and verify that the list becomes empty if it contained only one node.
Write a Python function to delete the first node in a singly linked list and update a size counter accordingly.

Go to:

Previous: Write a Python program to set a new value of an item in a singly linked list using index value.
Next: Write a Python program to delete the last item from a singly linked list.

Python Code Editor:

Contribute your code and comments through Disqus.