help sorted python code example

Example 1: sorted vs sort python

# The sort() function will modify the list it is called on. 
# The sorted() function will create a new list 
# containing a sorted version of the list it is given.

list = [4,8,2,1]
list.sort()
#--> list = [1,2,4,8] now

list = [4,8,2,1]
new_list = list.sorted()
#--> list = [4,8,2,1], but new_list = [1,2,4,8]

Example 2: python sort comparator

sorted("This is a test string from Andrew".split(), key=str.lower)
['a', 'Andrew', 'from', 'is', 'string', 'test', 'This']

sorted(student_tuples, key=lambda student: student[2])   # sort by age
[('dave', 'B', 10), ('jane', 'B', 12), ('john', 'A', 15)]