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Python List | sort method

schedule Aug 12, 2023
Last updated
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Python
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Python's list.sort(~) method sorts the elements of a list. The list is sorted in ascending order by default.

NOTE

list.sort(~) changes the order of the list permanently.

Parameters

1. reverse | boolean | optional

If True, the sorted list is reversed (sorted in descending order). Defaults to False.

2. key | function | optional

A function to specify the sorting criteria. The function should take a single argument and return a key to use for sorting purposes. Defaults to None.

Return value

None

Examples

Basic usage

To sort the list animals in ascending order:

animals = ['cat', 'doge', 'bird']
animals.sort()
print(animals)
['bird', 'cat', 'doge']

Note that the list is now sorted with elements in ascending alphabetical order.

Reverse parameter

To sort the list animals in descending order:

animals = ['cat', 'doge', 'bird']
animals.sort(reverse = True)
print(animals)
['doge', 'cat', 'bird']

Note that the list is now sorted with elements in descending alphabetical order.

Key parameter

To sort the list numbers according to the remainder when dividing each element by 3:

# A function that returns the remainder when dividing each element by 3
def modulo_3(elem):
return(elem % 3)
numbers = [5, 3, 4, 2]
# Sort numbers list using modulo_3 function as sorting key
numbers.sort(key = modulo_3)
print(numbers)
[3, 4, 5, 2]

Note that numbers list is now sorted in ascending order according to the remainder when each element is divided by 3.

robocat
Published by Isshin Inada
Edited by 0 others
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Official Python Documentation
https://docs.python.org/3/howto/sorting.html
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