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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUse sorted(words) to create a new alphabetically ordered list, or words.sort() to reorder a list in place. For case-insensitive sorting, pass key=str.casefold to either method.
Choose between a new list and sorting in place
Python provides two built-in options. sorted() accepts any iterable and returns a new list, leaving the original sequence unchanged. list.sort() changes the existing list and returns None. The Python Sorting HOW TO explains both behaviors.
| What you need | Use | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the original unchanged, or sort an iterable such as a tuple | sorted(items) |
Returns a new list |
| Reorder an existing list | items.sort() |
Mutates the list; returns None |
Make a sorted copy
Call sorted() when you want the result in a separate list:
words = ["pear", "apple", "banana"]
alphabetical = sorted(words)
print(alphabetical) # ['apple', 'banana', 'pear']
print(words) # ['pear', 'apple', 'banana']Reorder the existing list
Call .sort() when changing the list itself is intended:
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words = ["pear", "apple", "banana"]
words.sort()
print(words) # ['apple', 'banana', 'pear']Do not assign the method’s return value back to the list: words = words.sort() makes words equal to None.
Sort strings without distinguishing uppercase and lowercase
Default string sorting distinguishes uppercase and lowercase. To compare strings without that distinction, use the built-in str.casefold method as the key:
names = ["Zoe", "alice", "Émile"]
case_insensitive = sorted(names, key=str.casefold)
print(case_insensitive) # ['alice', 'Zoe', 'Émile']The key determines what Python compares; it does not replace the original strings. A key is calculated once per item during sorting. You can use the same option with .sort():
names.sort(key=str.casefold)Sort in descending order
Pass reverse=True to put the sorted result in descending order. It works with both sorting methods and can be combined with a key:
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutereverse_order = sorted(names, key=str.casefold, reverse=True)Python’s sort is stable: when items have equal sort keys, their relative order from the input is preserved. This is useful, for example, when a key intentionally treats differently cased strings as equivalent.
Sort records by a name field
For objects with a name attribute, use a key that selects that attribute. For tuples with the name in the first position, use an item accessor:
people_by_name = sorted(people, key=lambda person: person.name)
rows_by_name = sorted(rows, key=operator.itemgetter(0))These examples assume the selected values can be compared with one another. A key changes the comparison basis while leaving the stored objects or records intact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When language-specific alphabetization matters
Case-insensitive sorting is not the same as dictionary ordering in every language. If the ordering must follow a particular locale’s rules, Python’s sorting guide describes using locale.strxfrm() as a key or locale.strcoll() as a comparison function. These functions follow the active locale, so the application needs to set the intended locale for its environment. See the Python Sorting HOW TO for details.
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Handle values that cannot be compared directly
The examples above assume strings, or selected key values, are mutually orderable. If a list contains mixed or otherwise unorderable values, provide an explicit key that maps every item to a comparable value; without one, Python may raise a TypeError.
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