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list sort() function bring backs None - Printable Version

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list sort() function bring backs None - CompleteNewb - Mar-20-2022

i have a program that gives back a random list of numbers which i then sort using .sort() , but then this happened:

    list1 = [1,1,1,1,1]
    list2 = list1.sort[]
    print(list2)
output

None
why doesn't it just return

[1,1,1,1,1]

and what kind i do to bypass that problem?


RE: list sort() function bring backs None - menator01 - Mar-20-2022

list1 = [1,1,1,1,1]
list2 = list1
list2.sort()
print(list2)
Output:
[1, 1, 1, 1, 1]



RE: list sort() function bring backs None - Yoriz - Mar-20-2022

That is because the list sort method sorts in place and returns None
list1 = [3, 4, 1, 2]
list2 = list1.sort()
print(list1)
print(list2)
Output:
[1, 2, 3, 4] None
Use sorted if you want to get a sperate sorted version
list1 = [3, 4, 1, 2]
list2 = sorted(list1)
print(list1)
print(list2)
Output:
[3, 4, 1, 2] [1, 2, 3, 4]


@menator01 Your code has two variables list1 & list2 that point to the same list object
list1 = [3, 4, 1, 2]
list2 = list1
list2.sort()
print(list1)
print(list2)
Output:
[1, 2, 3, 4] [1, 2, 3, 4]



RE: list sort() function bring backs None - CompleteNewb - Mar-20-2022

thank you


RE: list sort() function bring backs None - deanhystad - Mar-21-2022

@newb

You really need to do more research into these simple questions. It is easy to google "Why does sort return None?", but I prefer reading the Python documentation because I always learn more. This talks about all the things you can do with lists, including sorting.
https://docs.python.org/3/library/stdtypes.html?highlight=list%20sort#list.sort

That references a nice article all about sorting.
https://docs.python.org/3/howto/sorting.html#sortinghowto

You post a question here and you get your answer. Eventually. When you search the documentation you get the answer faster, and learn more that is related to your question.


RE: list sort() function bring backs None - CompleteNewb - Mar-25-2022

Thank you, I'll check out the ressources you just gave me before asking question here in the future but trust me i search the web before asking question, i just don't seem to be good at it


RE: list sort() function bring backs None - Larz60+ - Mar-26-2022

Don't apologize, at one point or another we've all been there, and that is what this forum is all about!