Algorithms & data structures
Classic patterns — search, sort, stacks, queues, and practical complexity-aware code.
How to Evaluate RPN Expressions in Python
Use a stack to evaluate Reverse Polish Notation token lists with a dictionary of operator lambdas, truncating division toward zero.
def eval_rpn(tokens):
stack = []
ops = {
'+': lambda a, b: a + b,
'-': lambda a, b: a - b,
'*': lambda a, b: a * b,
'/': lambda a, b: int(a / b) # truncate toward zero
}
for token in tokens:
if token in ops:
b = stack.pop()
a = stack.pop(…Sort list by multiple keys with tuple ordering in Python
Sort a list of dictionaries by multiple criteria — surname, age, then score descending — using a tuple key and negation.
def sort_multi_key(data):
# Sorts by surname, then age, then score descending
return sorted(
data,
key=lambda person: (
person['surname'].lower(),
person['age'],
-person['score'] # negative to reverse sort by score
)
)
if __name__ == "__main__"…Browse by section
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Algorithms & data structures — Python code examples
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This page collects algorithms & data structures snippets — short, copy-ready Python you can paste into our free online IDE and run without installing anything. Each sample includes a plain-English explanation and the full source code.
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