What does the `append()` method do when used with a list?

The append() method is a built-in function in Python that is specifically designed to add an item to the end of a list. This method modifies the original list in place by increasing its length by one, and it allows the insertion of any data type, whether it be another list, a number, a string, or an object.

For instance, if you have a list of fruits, you could use append() to add a new fruit to that list without altering the existing items. This feature makes append() an essential method for dynamically building and managing lists in your programs, especially when the number of elements is not predetermined.

In contrast, other methods and functions that deal with lists serve different purposes, such as removing items, sorting, or reversing them, which clarifies why they are not the correct answer in this context.