IndexError: list index out of range
Code accessed a list position that doesn’t exist.
Seen on:
Python
Meaning
Lists are zero-based; the last index is len(x) - 1. Empty results, off-by-one loops and split() returning fewer parts than expected are typical.
Common causes
- Empty list (no results)
- Off-by-one loop (range(len(x) + 1))
- line.split(',')[3] on a short line
- Modifying the list while iterating by index
⚡ Quick fix
- Check length before indexing
- Iterate directly: for item in items
- Use x[-1] for the last item
- Guard: parts[3] if len(parts) > 3 else None
Detailed fix by platform
Python
first = items[0] if items else None
How to diagnose
- Index — Which index and list length?
- Data — Why is the list shorter than expected?
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Last updated 2 Oct 2026