Python list sort
In Python, you can sort a list using the `sort()` method or the `sorted()` function. Here's a brief overview of both methods:
### Using `sort()`
The `sort()` method sorts the list in place (i.e., it modifies the original list) and does not return a new list. It sorts the list in ascending order by default.
```python
# Example of using sort()
numbers = [5, 2, 9, 1, 5, 6]
numbers.sort()
print(numbers) # Output: [1, 2, 5, 5, 6, 9]
```
You can also sort in descending order by passing the `reverse=True` argument:
```python
# Example of sorting in descending order
numbers.sort(reverse=True)
print(numbers) # Output: [9, 6, 5, 5, 2, 1]
```
You can also use a custom sorting key by passing a function to the `key` parameter:
```python
# Example of sorting using a custom key
words = ['banana', 'apple', 'cherry']
words.sort(key=len) # Sorts by length of words
print(words) # Output: ['apple', 'banan', 'cherry']
```
### Using `sorted()`
The `sorted()` function returns a new sorted list from the elements of any iterable (e.g., list, tuple, string) and does not modify the original iterable.
```python
# Example of using sorted()
numbers = [5, 2, 9, 1, 5, 6]
sorted_numbers = sorted(numbers)
print(sorted_numbers) # Output: [1, 2, 5, 5, 6, 9]
print(numbers) # Original list remains unchanged
```
Like `sort()`, you can also sort in descending order, and you can use the `key` parameter:
```python
# Example of sorting using sorted() in descending order
sorted_numbers_desc = sorted(numbers, reverse=True)
print(sorted_numbers_desc) # Output: [9, 6, 5, 5, 2, 1]
# Sort by length using sorted()
words = ['banana', 'apple', 'cherry']
sorted_words = sorted(words, key=len)
print(sorted_words) # Output: ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
```
### Summary
- Use `.sort()` when you want to sort a list in place.
- Use `sorted()` when you want to create a new sorted list from any iterable.