Friday, October 10, 2025
HomeLanguagesPython – Remove alternate consecutive duplicates

Python – Remove alternate consecutive duplicates

Given list of elements, remove alternate consecutive duplicates of elements.

Input : test_list = [5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] Output : [5, 5, 6] Explanation : Alternate occ. of 5 and 6 are removed. Input : test_list = [5, 5, 5, 5] Output : [5, 5] Explanation : Alternate occ. of 5 are removed.

Method : Using loop + remove()

The combination of above functions can be used to solve this problem. In this, we iterate each element and use additional previous element variable to keep track of alternate criteria. The removal is performed using remove().

Python3




# Python3 code to demonstrate working of
# Remove alternate consecutive duplicates
# Using loop + remove()
 
# initializing lists
test_list = [5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8, 3, 3, 8]
 
# printing original list
print("The original list : " + str(test_list))
 
# Using loop to iterate through elements
# element to keep track
temp = test_list[0]
count = 0
org_list = test_list
idx = 0
while(1):
     
    # break when idx greater than size
    if idx >= len(org_list):
        break
     
    # check for alternates
    if count % 2 and temp == test_list[idx]:
        test_list.remove(test_list[idx])
        idx = idx - 1
        count += 1
        temp = test_list[idx]
    else:
         
        # keeping track of alternate index increment
        # and assignment
        if temp != test_list[idx]:
            count = 1
            temp = test_list[idx]
        else :
            count += 1
    idx = idx + 1
 
# printing result
print("List after alternate duplicates removal : " + str(test_list))


Output

The original list : [5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8, 3, 3, 8]
List after alternate duplicates removal : [5, 5, 6, 8, 3, 8]

Time Complexity: O(n), where n is the size of list
Auxiliary Space: O(n), where n is the size of list

Dominic
Dominichttp://wardslaus.com
infosec,malicious & dos attacks generator, boot rom exploit philanthropist , wild hacker , game developer,
RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Dominic
32350 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
87 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6718 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
11880 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
11941 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
6838 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7101 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6794 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6794 POSTS0 COMMENTS