What are some use cases for the sorted() function in Python?

What are some use cases for the sorted() function in Python?

The sorted() function in Python is used to sort iterables like lists, tuples, and strings. Some use cases include sorting a list of numbers, arranging names alphabetically, or organizing data in a specific order.

Can you give me an example of sorting a list of dictionaries?

Sure! You can sort a list of dictionaries by a specific key using a lambda function. For example:

people = [{'name': 'Alice', 'age': 30}, {'name': 'Bob', 'age': 25}]
sorted_people = sorted(people, key=lambda x: x['age'])

This will sort the list by age.

What if I want to sort in descending order?

You can use the reverse parameter in the sorted() function. For example:

sorted_people_desc = sorted(people, key=lambda x: x['age'], reverse=True)

This will sort the list of dictionaries by age in descending order.

Are there any performance considerations when using sorted()?

Yes, the sorted() function has a time complexity of O(n log n). For large datasets, consider using other sorting algorithms or methods like list.sort() for in-place sorting.