Sorting 2D List in Python

Question

Using .sort() in Python, how do I sort a 2D list e.g.:

myVar = [['blueberries','fruit','5.20'],['bean sprouts','vegetable','9.25'],['tulip','flower','8.93']]
#added comma

by item e.g.,:

myVar = [['bean sprouts','vegetable','9.25'],['blueberries','fruit','5.20'],['tulip','flower','8.93']]

by price e.g.,:

myVar = [['blueberries','fruit','5.20'],['tulip','flower','8.93'],['bean sprouts','vegetable','9.25']]

where "blueberries, bean sprouts and tulips" are items, "fruit, vegetable and flower" are categories and the floats are prices.

Any elements in lists have to be separated by commas. Please don't use list as a variable as it is an inbuilt function — user15801675
– user15801675, Commented Aug 1, 2021 at 9:18
Take a look at the 'sorted' builtin function and, in particular, the [optional] 'key' named parameter — user2668284
– user2668284, Commented Aug 1, 2021 at 9:20

Dima Chubarov · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-01 09:26:04Z

1

Do not forget to put commas between the elements of a list

myVar = [['blueberries','fruit','5.20'],
         ['bean sprouts','vegetable','9.25'],
         ['tulip','flower','8.93']]

Now you could use the sorted builtin as Andy Knight suggested in the comments and specify a key function to use for comparing items.

Sort list by price and get a copy of the sorted list

sorted(myVar, key=lambda x: float(x[2]))

Sort list by item name

sorted(myVar, key=lambda x: x[0])

answered Aug 1, 2021 at 9:26

Dima Chubarov

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Comments

score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-01 09:29:31Z

1

Consider using something like this:-

myList = [['blueberries', 'fruit', 5.20], [
    'bean sprouts', 'vegetable', 9.25], ['tulip', 'flower', 8.93]]

for i in range(3):
    print(sorted(myList, key=lambda x: x[i]))

edited Aug 1, 2021 at 9:29

answered Aug 1, 2021 at 9:24

user2668284

Comments

khgb · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-01 09:20:49Z

0

You can use lambda

For example,

Sorting by item:

list.sort(key = lambda x: x[0])

Sorting by price:

list.sort(key = lambda x : x[2])

answered Aug 1, 2021 at 9:20

khgb

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Comments

user15801675 · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-01 09:23:26Z

0

You can use the built-in sorted function:

def Sort(sub_li):
    return(sorted(sub_li, key = lambda x: x[2]))    

sub_li =[['blueberries','fruit','5.20'],['bean sprouts','vegetable','9.25'],['tulip','flower','8.93']]
print(Sort(sub_li))

answered Aug 1, 2021 at 9:23

user15801675

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