Sign In Start Free Trial
Account

Add to playlist

Create a Playlist

Modal Close icon
You need to login to use this feature.
  • Book Overview & Buying Python Essentials
  • Table Of Contents Toc
  • Feedback & Rating feedback
Python Essentials

Python Essentials

By : Steven F. Lott
4.5 (2)
close
close
Python Essentials

Python Essentials

4.5 (2)
By: Steven F. Lott

Overview of this book

This book is designed for Python 2 developers who want to get to grips with Python 3 in a short period of time. It covers the key features of Python, assuming you are familiar with the fundamentals of Python 2.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
close
close
16
Index

Using the built-in reductions – max, min, and reduce


We have two other built-in higher-order functions that can accept functions as arguments. These can be characterized as reductions: they reduce a collection of values to a single value. There's a third built-in reduction, sum, but it's not a proper higher-order function: we can't tailor its operation by plugging in a function.

The max() and min() reductions follow the design pattern for the sorted() function: they accept an iterable object first, and they can be customized with an optional key function. We'll show the default behavior first, then we'll show how to customize this with the key function:

>>> data = ["21", "3", "35", "4"]
>>> min(data)
'21'
>>> min(data, key=int)
'3'

In the first example, the string objects were compared using string comparison. This leads to the anomaly of seeing "21" appear to be less than "3". In fact, a string beginning with "2" is sorted before a string beginning with "3", but...

Visually different images
CONTINUE READING
83
Tech Concepts
36
Programming languages
73
Tech Tools
Icon Unlimited access to the largest independent learning library in tech of over 8,000 expert-authored tech books and videos.
Icon Innovative learning tools, including AI book assistants, code context explainers, and text-to-speech.
Icon 50+ new titles added per month and exclusive early access to books as they are being written.
Python Essentials
notes
bookmark Notes and Bookmarks search Search in title playlist Add to playlist download Download options font-size Font size

Change the font size

margin-width Margin width

Change margin width

day-mode Day/Sepia/Night Modes

Change background colour

Close icon Search
Country selected

Close icon Your notes and bookmarks

Confirmation

Modal Close icon
claim successful

Buy this book with your credits?

Modal Close icon
Are you sure you want to buy this book with one of your credits?
Close
YES, BUY

Submit Your Feedback

Modal Close icon
Modal Close icon
Modal Close icon