Python sorted()

Python’s sorted() function takes in an iterable object, such as a list, tuple, dictionary, set, or string, and sorts it according to a parameter. This function is versatile, easy to use, and supports custom sorting logic using optional parameters.

Python sorted() Syntax

sorted(iterable, key=None, reverse=False)

Parameters:

• iterable: The sequence (list, tuple, string, dictionary, etc.) to be sorted.
• key (Optional): A function that acts as a sorting key.
• reverse (Optional): If True, the result is sorted in descending order.

Return value:

Returns a list that includes the elements in the iterable in sorted order.

Example 1: Sorting a List Using sorted() Function in Python

This example uses sorted() to sort the my_list list:

my_list = ["beta", "epsilon", "alpha", "delta", "gamma"]

new_list = sorted(my_list)

print(new_list)

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Here is the output:

['alpha', 'beta', 'delta', 'epsilon', 'gamma']

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Example 2: Sorting in Descending Order Using sorted()

This example uses sorted() with the reverse parameter set to True to sort the my_list list in descending order:

my_list = [7, 2, 3, 5, 1, 4, 6]

new_list = sorted(my_list, reverse=True)

print(new_list)

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Here is the output:

[7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1]

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Codebyte Example: Using Python’s sorted() with a Key

This codebyte example uses sorted() with the key parameter set to len to sort the words list based on the length of its items:

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between sorted() and list.sort()?

• sorted() works on any iterable and returns a new sorted list.
• list.sort() modifies the list in-place and returns None.

2. Can I sort in descending order using sorted()?

Yes, you can set the reverse parameter in sorted() to True to sort in descending order.

3. Does sorted() always return a list?

Yes, no matter what iterable you pass in—whether it’s a string, tuple, set, or dictionary, sorted() always returns a new list containing the sorted elements. It never returns the same type as the input.