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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Slices Back and Forth

Posted by samt
samt
6,039 Points

Why doesn't this work?

Hi Guys,

I tried this for the last step of this code challenge but was told that it wasnt sorted ? Can someone explain why this is wrong?

Thanks

Sam 

sorted_things = favorite_things[:].sort()

1 Answer

Stuart Wright
Stuart Wright
41,118 Points
Stuart Wright
Stuart Wright
41,118 Points

It is because the .sort() method sorts the list in place, and doesn't return anything, so assigning the result of the .sort() method to a new variable doesn't do what you think it would do. For this challenge, you need to use two lines:

sorted_things = favorite_things[:]
sorted_things.sort()

A one-line solution would be:

sorted_things = sorted(favorite_things[:])

But the challenge specifically asks for you to use the .sort() method here, so the first solution is the one to pass the challenge.