Python List sort() Method

❮ List Methods

Example

Sort the list alphabetically:

cars = ['Ford', 'BMW', 'Volvo']

cars.sort()

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Definition and Usage

The sort() method sorts the list ascending by default.

You can also make a function to decide the sorting criteria(s).

Syntax

list.sort(reverse=True|False, key=myFunc)

Parameter Values

Parameter	Description
reverse	Optional. reverse=True will sort the list descending. Default is reverse=False
key	Optional. A function to specify the sorting criteria(s)

More Examples

Example

Sort the list descending:

cars = ['Ford', 'BMW', 'Volvo']

cars.sort(reverse=True)

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Example

Sort the list by the length of the values:

# A function that returns the length of the value:
def myFunc(e):
return len(e)

cars = ['Ford', 'Mitsubishi', 'BMW', 'VW']

cars.sort(key=myFunc)

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Example

Sort a list of dictionaries based on the "year" value of the dictionaries:

# A function that returns the 'year' value:
def myFunc(e):
return e['year']

cars = [
{'car': 'Ford', 'year': 2005},
{'car': 'Mitsubishi', 'year': 2000},
{'car': 'BMW', 'year': 2019},
{'car': 'VW', 'year': 2011}
]

cars.sort(key=myFunc)

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Example

Sort the list by the length of the values and reversed:

# A function that returns the length of the value:
def myFunc(e):
return len(e)

cars = ['Ford', 'Mitsubishi', 'BMW', 'VW']

cars.sort(reverse=True, key=myFunc)

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❮ List Methods