In this tutorial, we will learn about the python min() method and its uses with examples.
What is Python min() Method
The min() method returns the item with the smallest value or the item with the smallest value in an iterable.
The syntax of min() method:
There are two different syntaxes of min() that can be used in python.
min(n1, n2, n3, *n,key)
Or
min(iterable,*iterable, key,default)
As you can see, there are different parameters for different syntax in the python min() method.
Let’s check them one by one
Python min() method with objects
It helps us to find the lowest value object between two or more objects. As we can see this syntax:
min(n1,n2,n3,*n,key)
min() parameters
- n1 – an object; can be a number, string, etc.
- n2 – an object; can be a number, string, etc.
- n3 – an object; can be a number, string, etc.
- *n (optional) – any number of objects.
- key (optional) – key method where each argument is passed, and comparison is performed based on its return value
Let’s check some examples of min() methods with objects.
Example 1:How to find minimum value among given numbers?
result = min(2,56,-2,72,-83)
print("The smallest number is:",result)
Output:
The smallest number is: -83
Example 2: How to find minimum value among given variables?
num1 = 34
num2 = 2
num3 = -65
num4 = 92
num5 = -21
result = min(num1,num2,num3,num4,num5)
print("The smallest number is:",result)
Output:
The smallest number is: -65
min() method with iterable
It helps us to find the lowest value from an iterable. As we can see this syntax:
min(iterable, *iterable, key,default)
min() parameters
- iterable – an iterable that can be list, tuple, set, dictionary, etc.
- *iterable – any number of iterables: can be more than one.
- key (optional) – key method where the iterables are passed and comparison is performed based on its return value
- default (optional) – a default value if the given iterable is empty.
Example 3: Find smallest item from a list.
numbers = [7,1,-6,2,8,10]
print("The smallest number is:",min(numbers))
The output will be as follows.
The smallest number is: -6
Rules of min() method
- If an empty iterator is passed without a default parameter it will raise a ValueError exception.
- If the multiple iterators are passed, the smallest value item from the given iterators will return.
If you want to learn about how to find the smallest or lowest value item, you can use the Python min() method