sort in 2d array python code example

Example 1: sort by index 2d array python

a = [[9, 9, 2], [9, 9, 3], [9, 9, 8], [9, 9, 4], [9, 9, 1], [9, 9, 5]]

b = sorted(a, key=lambda a:a[2])

#b contains the following arrays, sorted by their second index:
[[9, 9, 1], [9, 9, 2], [9, 9, 3], [9, 9, 4], [9, 9, 5], [9, 9, 8]]

Example 2: python sort a 2d array by custom function

>>> a = [
     [12, 18, 6, 3], 
     [ 4,  3, 1, 2], 
     [15,  8, 9, 6]
]
>>> a.sort(key=lambda x: x[1])
>>> a
[[4,  3,  1, 2], 
 [15, 8,  9, 6], 
 [12, 18, 6, 3]]