In Python, the sorted() function is a versatile tool for sorting sequences efficiently. This article aims to elucidate its usage, applications, and significance through comprehensive examples.
Understanding sorted() Function
The sorted() function in Python is utilized to sort sequences such as lists, tuples, or strings. Its syntax is as follows:
sorted(iterable, key=None, reverse=False)
Here, iterable represents the sequence to be sorted, key denotes a function to be applied to each element for sorting (optional), and reverse indicates whether to sort in descending order (default is ascending).
Example 1: Sorting a List
my_list = [3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9, 2, 6, 5, 3]
sorted_list = sorted(my_list)
print("Sorted List:", sorted_list)
Output 1:
Sorted List: [1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 9]
Example 2: Sorting a String
my_string = "python"
sorted_string = sorted(my_string)
print("Sorted String:", ''.join(sorted_string))
Output 2:
Sorted String: hnopty
Example 3: Sorting with Custom Key Function
my_list = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange', 'grape']
sorted_list = sorted(my_list, key=len)
print("Sorted List by Length:", sorted_list)
Output 3:
Sorted List by Length: ['apple', 'grape', 'banana', 'orange']
Example 4: Sorting in Reverse Order
my_list = [3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9, 2, 6, 5, 3]
sorted_list_reverse = sorted(my_list, reverse=True)
print("Sorted List (Reverse):", sorted_list_reverse)
Output 4:
Sorted List (Reverse): [9, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1]
Points to Remember
- The
sorted()function sorts sequences in ascending order by default. - It accepts optional parameters such as
keyfor custom sorting andreversefor sorting in descending order. sorted()returns a new sorted list, leaving the original sequence unchanged.
