Data manipulation forms a cornerstone of programming, demanding adeptness in organizing, arranging, and ordering collections efficiently. Python equips developers with robust sorting tools, abstracting underlying complexities and permitting focus on higher-level abstractions.
This tutorial explores fundamental sorting algorithms and techniques employed in Python, covering lists, tuples, sets, dictionaries, and user-defined objects.
Prerequisites
Some prior exposure to Python fundamentals, such as variables, strings, arithmetic operators, conditional statements, loops, and standard library modules, establishes a foundation for absorbing subsequent materials.
List Sorting
Apply built-in sort() method or sorted() function, furnishing fine-grained control over sorting criteria and behaviors.
# Original list
my_list = [5, 3, 1, 4, 2]
# In-place sorting
my_list.sort()
print(my_list) # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# New sorted list
sorted_list = sorted(my_list, reverse=True)
print(sorted_list) # Output: [5, 4, 3, 2, 1]