# SPOP

```json metadata
{
  "schema_version": 2,
  "title": "SPOP",
  "description": "Returns one or more random members from a set after removing them. Deletes the set if the last member was popped.",
  "categories": ["docs","develop","stack","oss","rs","rc","oss","kubernetes","clients"],
  "arguments": [{"display_text":"key","key_spec_index":0,"name":"key","type":"key"},{"display_text":"count","name":"count","optional":true,"since":"3.2.0","type":"integer"}],
  "syntax_fmt": "SPOP key [count]",
  "complexity": "Without the count argument O(1), otherwise O(N) where N is the value of the passed count.",
  "group": "set",
  "command_flags": ["write","fast"],
  "acl_categories": ["@write","@set","@fast"],
  "since": "1.0.0",
  "arity": -2,
  "key_specs": [{"RW":true,"access":true,"begin_search":{"spec":{"index":1},"type":"index"},"delete":true,"find_keys":{"spec":{"keystep":1,"lastkey":0,"limit":0},"type":"range"}}],
  "tableOfContents": {"sections":[{"id":"required-arguments","title":"Required arguments"},{"id":"optional-arguments","title":"Optional arguments"},{"id":"examples","title":"Examples"},{"children":[{"id":"distribution-of-returned-elements","title":"Distribution of returned elements"}],"id":"details","title":"Details"},{"id":"redis-software-and-redis-cloud-compatibility","title":"Redis Software and Redis Cloud compatibility"},{"id":"return-information","title":"Return information"}]}

,
  "codeExamples": []
}
```

Removes and returns one or more random members from the set value store at `key`.

This operation is similar to [`SRANDMEMBER`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/srandmember), that returns one or more random elements from a set but does not remove it.

By default, the command pops a single member from the set. When provided with
the optional `count` argument, the reply will consist of up to `count` members,
depending on the set's cardinality.

## Required arguments

<details open><summary><code>key</code></summary>

The name of the key that holds the set.

</details>

## Optional arguments

<details open><summary><code>count</code></summary>

The number of members to pop. Without it, a single member is popped.

</details>

## Examples


redis> SADD myset "one"
(integer) 1
redis> SADD myset "two"
(integer) 1
redis> SADD myset "three"
(integer) 1
redis> SPOP myset
redis> SMEMBERS myset
1) "one"
2) "three"
redis> SADD myset "four"
(integer) 1
redis> SADD myset "five"
(integer) 1
redis> SPOP myset 3
redis> SMEMBERS myset
1) "three"


## Details

### Distribution of returned elements

Note that this command is not suitable when you need a guaranteed uniform distribution of the returned elements. For more information about the algorithms used for `SPOP`, look up both the Knuth sampling and Floyd sampling algorithms.

## Redis Software and Redis Cloud compatibility

| Redis<br />Software | Redis<br />Cloud | <span style="min-width: 9em; display: table-cell">Notes</span> |
|:----------------------|:-----------------|:------|
| <span title="Supported">&#x2705; Standard</span><br /><span title="Supported"><nobr>&#x2705; Active-Active</nobr></span> | <span title="Supported">&#x2705; Standard</span><br /><span title="Supported"><nobr>&#x2705; Active-Active</nobr></span> |  |

## Return information

**RESP2:**

One of the following:
* [Nil reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#bulk-strings): if the key does not exist.
* [Bulk string reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#bulk-strings): when called without the _count_ argument, the removed member.
* [Array reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#arrays): when called with the _count_ argument, a list of the removed members.

**RESP3:**

One of the following:
* [Null reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#nulls): if the key does not exist.
* [Bulk string reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#bulk-strings): when called without the _count_ argument, the removed member.
* [Array reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#arrays): when called with the _count_ argument, a list of the removed members.