Append and extend a list
Input
append_and_extend([1, 2], 3, [4, 5])
Output
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
First append 3 to [1, 2] -> [1, 2, 3], then extend with [4, 5] -> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Full lesson preview
Append an item and extend a list
Learn how to add a single item to a list and then extend it with another iterable, returning the modified list.
Python practice6 minLists & TuplesBeginnerLast updated March 17, 2026
Problem statement
Write a function append_and_extend(lst, item, to_extend) that appends item to the end of lst and then extends lst with all elements from to_extend (an iterable). The function should modify the provided list and return it. Handle any iterable for to_extend (e.g., list, tuple, range). Do not create and return a new list — modify the original and return it.
Task
Implement a function that appends one element to a list and extends it with another iterable, returning the modified list.
Examples
Input format
A function call: append_and_extend(lst, item, to_extend)
Output format
Return the modified list (the same object after changes).
Constraints
Do not create a new list; perform operations in-place (use append and extend semantics). to_extend can be any iterable.
Samples
Sample 1
Input
append_and_extend([], 'a', [])
Output
['a']
Appending 'a' to an empty list and extending with an empty iterable results in ['a'].