The sort() method and sorted() function in Python are used to sort a list of elements in ascending or descending order. However, there are some differences between these two methods.

  • sort() method: This method is used to sort the elements of the list in-place. That means the original list is modified, and no new list is created. The sort() method only works with lists and cannot be used with other iterable types. This method has a reverse parameter that can be set to True to sort the list in descending order.
  • sorted() function: This function is used to create a new sorted list from the iterable. That means a new list is created, and the original list remains unmodified. The sorted() function can be used with any iterable, including lists, tuples, and strings. This function also has a reverse parameter that can be set to True to sort the list in descending order.

        Here is an example that demonstrates the difference between sort() and sorted():

my_list = [4, 1, 3, 2]

# Using the sort() method
my_list.sort()
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

# Using the sorted() function
sorted_list = sorted(my_list)
print(sorted_list)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]
print(my_list)  # Output: [4, 1, 3, 2]

        As you can see, the sort() method modifies the original list, while the sorted() function creates a new sorted list.