figure - check for empty lists as needed in your application type len(list and press enter the len(function now reports length of type list [ and press enter you see the value stored in element of list as shown in figure - figure - appending an element changes the list length and stores the value at the end of the list type list insert( and press enter the insert(function requires two arguments the first argument is the index of the insertionwhich is element in this case the second argument is the object you want inserted at that pointwhich is in this case type list and press enter python has added another element to list howeverusing the insert(function lets you add the new element before the first elementas shown in figure -