List in Python What is the difference between sort() and sorted()?

Python Provides two ways to sort lists , Built in list method list.sort() And built-in functions sorted(). Although both will sort the elements of the list , But if you don't use it properly , They may produce unexpected or undesirable results .

similarities and differences

The main difference between the two is list.sort() The list will be sorted in place , Change its index and return None, and sorted() A new sort list will be returned , The original list remains unchanged . Another difference is sorted() Accept any iteratable whilelist.sort() yes list Class method , And can only be used with lists .

nums = [2, 3, 1, 5, 6, 4, 0]
print(sorted(nums)) # [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
print(nums) # [2, 3, 1, 5, 6, 4, 0]
print(nums.sort()) # None
print(nums) # [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

both list.sort() and sorted() All have the same key Optional reverse Parameters , And you can call... On each list element before comparing .

When to use each

list.sort() It should be used when you want to change the list and do not need to retrieve the original order of the elements . On the other hand ,sorted() When the object to be sorted is an iteratable object （ For example, a list of 、 Tuples 、 Dictionaries 、 character string ） And the expected result is a sorted list of all elements , It should be used .