# Adding MLIST Elements

> [HTML Version](addingmlistelements.htm)

New elements may be added to the front or back of a list using array assignment syntax equivalent to that used for the ORDMAP collection, except instead of string keys, you must use one of the special dot variable pseudo keys:

\$m(.PUSHFRONT) = X     \! add new element to front; assign value X

\$m(.PUSHBACK) = X      \! add new element at back; assign value x



You may also“ insert an element into the middle of the list using the special dot function .BEFORE(\$\$i). In the following example, we scan the list until locating an element whose value is "something", and then insert a new element before it:

foreach \$\$i in \$m()

    if \$\$i = "something" then

        \$m(.BEFORE(\$\$i)) = x    \! insert new element before \$\$i position

        exit

    endif

next \$\$i



Modifying existing elements uses the same syntax as adding or inserting new elements, except with a different set of [Dot Variables](dotvariables.htm.md) and [Dot Functions](dotfunctions.htm.md):

\$m(.FRONT) = y         \! change value of first element to y

\$m(.BACK) = y          \! change value of last element to y



To update the value of an element by iterator, you must use the special dot function .REF(\$\$i) to return to updateable reference to the iterator (since \$\$i by itself is a read-only copy of the value of the element).

foreach \$\$i in \$m()

    \$m(.REF(\$\$i)) = \$\$i + "y"  \! update value of each element

next \$\$i