LPUSH and RPUSH for insertion in Redis - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the LPUSH command do in Redis?

LPUSH inserts one or more values at the beginning (left) of a list stored at a given key.

beginner

How does RPUSH differ from LPUSH in Redis?

RPUSH inserts one or more values at the end (right) of a list, while LPUSH inserts at the beginning (left).

intermediate

If you run LPUSH mylist "a" "b" "c", what will be the order of elements in the list?

The list will be ["c", "b", "a"] because LPUSH inserts each new element at the front, so the last value ends up first.

beginner

What happens if the key does not exist when you use LPUSH or RPUSH?

Redis creates a new list with the given values if the key does not exist.

beginner

Can LPUSH and RPUSH be used to insert multiple values at once?

Yes, both commands accept multiple values and insert them in the order given.

What does RPUSH do in Redis?

A Inserts values at the end of a list

B Deletes values from a list

C Inserts values at the beginning of a list

D Creates a new key without values

RPUSH adds one or more values to the end (right side) of a list.

If you run LPUSH mylist "x" "y", what is the order of elements?

A Empty list

B ["x", "y"]

C ["x"]

D ["y", "x"]

LPUSH inserts each value at the front, so the last value ends up first.

What happens if the list key does not exist when using RPUSH?

A Returns an error

B Creates a new list with the values

C Does nothing

D Deletes the key

Redis creates a new list with the given values if the key does not exist.

Which command inserts values at the start of a list?

A LPUSH

B RPUSH

C LPOP

D RPOP

LPUSH inserts values at the beginning (left) of the list.

Can LPUSH and RPUSH insert multiple values at once?

A Only RPUSH can

B No

C Yes

D Only LPUSH can

Both LPUSH and RPUSH accept multiple values and insert them in order.

Explain how LPUSH and RPUSH work for inserting elements into a Redis list.

Think about left and right ends of a list.

Describe the order of elements after using LPUSH with multiple values.

Imagine stacking plates on top.

Practice

1. What does the Redis command LPUSH mylist "apple" do?

easy

A. Adds "apple" to the start (left) of the list named mylist.

B. Adds "apple" to the end (right) of the list named mylist.

C. Removes "apple" from the list named mylist.

D. Creates a new list named mylist without adding any elements.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand LPUSH command behavior

   The LPUSH command inserts the given element(s) at the start (left) of the list.

2. Step 2: Apply to the example

   LPUSH mylist "apple" adds "apple" to the left side of the list named mylist.

3. Final Answer:

   Adds "apple" to the start (left) of the list named mylist. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   LPUSH = insert left [OK]

Hint: LPUSH inserts at the start (left) of the list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing LPUSH with RPUSH and thinking it adds to the end.
• Assuming LPUSH removes elements instead of adding.
• Believing LPUSH creates a list without adding elements.

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to add "banana" to the end of a Redis list named fruits?

easy

A. RPUSH fruits "banana"

B. LPUSH fruits "banana"

C. PUSH fruits "banana"

D. APPEND fruits "banana"

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify command to add at the end

   RPUSH adds elements to the end (right) of a Redis list.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   RPUSH fruits "banana" correctly adds "banana" to the end of the list named fruits.

3. Final Answer:

   RPUSH fruits "banana" -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   RPUSH = insert right [OK]

Hint: RPUSH adds to the end (right) of the list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using LPUSH instead of RPUSH to add at the end.
• Using non-existent commands like PUSH or APPEND.
• Incorrect command order or missing quotes.

3. Given an empty Redis list colors, what will be the result of these commands executed in order?
LPUSH colors "red"
RPUSH colors "blue"
LPUSH colors "green"
What is the content of the list colors after these commands?

medium

A. ["red", "blue", "green"]

B. ["red", "green", "blue"]

C. ["blue", "red", "green"]

D. ["green", "red", "blue"]

Solution

1. Step 1: Apply LPUSH colors "red" on empty list

   List becomes ["red"] because LPUSH adds "red" to the start.

2. Step 2: Apply RPUSH colors "blue"

   List becomes ["red", "blue"] because RPUSH adds "blue" to the end.

3. Step 3: Apply LPUSH colors "green"

   List becomes ["green", "red", "blue"] because LPUSH adds "green" to the start.

4. Final Answer:

   ["green", "red", "blue"] -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   LPUSH adds left, RPUSH adds right [OK]

Hint: Track list from left (LPUSH) and right (RPUSH) insertions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing order of elements after LPUSH and RPUSH.
• Assuming RPUSH adds to the start.
• Ignoring the order of commands executed.

4. You run the command LPUSH mylist "orange" "lemon" but get a "WRONGTYPE Operation against a key holding the wrong kind of value" error. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. LPUSH does not accept multiple values in one command.

B. The key mylist exists but is not a list.

C. LPUSH requires each value to be added with separate commands.

D. The correct syntax requires the key to be last.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check LPUSH command syntax

   LPUSH supports multiple values in one command and creates a list if the key does not exist.

2. Step 2: Identify the WRONGTYPE error cause

   The error occurs because the key 'mylist' already exists but holds a different data type (not a list).

3. Final Answer:

   The key mylist exists but is not a list. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   LPUSH + WRONGTYPE = key exists wrong type [OK]

Hint: LPUSH fails with WRONGTYPE if key exists as non-list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming LPUSH cannot add multiple values at once.
• Thinking list must exist before LPUSH.
• Misordering command arguments.

5. You want to create a Redis list tasks with the elements ["task1", "task2", "task3"] in that exact order, where task1 is the first element and task3 is the last. Which sequence of commands will achieve this?

hard

A. LPUSH tasks "task1"; LPUSH tasks "task2"; LPUSH tasks "task3"

B. RPUSH tasks "task3"; RPUSH tasks "task2"; RPUSH tasks "task1"

C. RPUSH tasks "task1"; RPUSH tasks "task2"; RPUSH tasks "task3"

D. LPUSH tasks "task1"; RPUSH tasks "task2"; LPUSH tasks "task3"

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand desired order

   We want the list as ["task1", "task2", "task3"] with task1 first and task3 last.

2. Step 2: Choose commands to add elements in order

   RPUSH adds elements to the end, so adding task1, then task2, then task3 with RPUSH keeps the order correct.

3. Step 3: Analyze other options

   LPUSH adds to start, so LPUSH tasks "task1"; LPUSH tasks "task2"; LPUSH tasks "task3" reverses order; LPUSH tasks "task1"; RPUSH tasks "task2"; LPUSH tasks "task3" mixes commands causing wrong order; RPUSH tasks "task3"; RPUSH tasks "task2"; RPUSH tasks "task1" reverses order.

4. Final Answer:

   RPUSH tasks "task1"; RPUSH tasks "task2"; RPUSH tasks "task3" -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   RPUSH in order = correct list order [OK]

Hint: Use RPUSH in order to keep elements in desired sequence [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using LPUSH in order, which reverses the list.
• Mixing LPUSH and RPUSH causing unexpected order.
• Adding elements in reverse order.