Python List sort
Python list.sort() method sorts the elements of the given list. We can sort the list in ascending or descending order by specifying reverse
parameter. We can also provide a function (where this function returns a value for each element) that can be used for comparison between the values of respective elements.
Syntax
The syntax to call sort() method on a list myList
is
myList.sort(*, key=None, reverse=False)
where
myList
is a Python listsort
is method namekey
is a function that can take the element as argument, and return a valuereverse
if True, sorts the list in descending order, or if False, sorts the list in ascending order
Examples
Sort a List in Ascending Order
In the following program, we initialize a list myList
with some integer values. We sort the elements in this list in ascending order, using sort()
method.
main.py
#take a list myList = [4, 16, 2, 0, 5] print(f'original list : {myList}') #sorted list myList.sort() print(f'sorted list : {myList}')
Output
original list : [4, 16, 2, 0, 5] sorted list : [0, 2, 4, 5, 16]
Sort a List in Descending Order
In the following program, we initialize a list myList
with some integer values. We sort the elements in this list in descending order, using sort()
method. For descending order, pass reverse=True
for sort()
method.
main.py
#take a list myList = [4, 16, 2, 0, 5] print(f'original list : {myList}') #sorted list myList.sort(reverse=True) print(f'sorted list : {myList}')
Output
original list : [4, 16, 2, 0, 5] sorted list : [16, 5, 4, 2, 0]
Conclusion
In this Python Tutorial, we learned how to sort the elements in a list in ascending or descending order using list.sort() method.