Learn the best methods to access the last element of a Python list. Compare negative indexing vs. length calculation with performance insights and best practices for Pythonic code.
Learn the most efficient and Pythonic ways to check if a key exists in a dictionary before updating values. Compare different methods including direct in operator, get(), setdefault(), and try/except patterns for optimal performance.
Learn the Pythonic way to safely remove dictionary keys using pop() method. Handle missing keys gracefully without KeyError. Complete guide with examples and best practices.