Lists & loops
Iterate, transform, and combine sequences with readable loop patterns.
How to Find the Maximum Value in a Python List
This code defines a function that finds the largest number in a list by iterating through it, returning None for an empty list, and demonstrates it on a sample list.
def find_max(numbers):
if not numbers:
return None
max_value = numbers[0]
for num in numbers[1:]:
if num > max_value:
max_value = num
return max_value
if __name__ == "__main__":
sample_list = [3, 7, 2, 9, 1, 9]
result = find_max(sample_list)
print(f"Maximum valu…How to Sort a List in Python in Ascending and Descending Order
This code demonstrates three ways to sort a list in Python: returning a new sorted list with sorted(), reversing the sort order, and sorting a list in place with the list.sort() method.
def get_sorted_data(numbers):
"""Return a new list sorted in ascending order."""
return sorted(numbers)
def reverse_sort(data):
"""Return a new list sorted in descending order."""
return sorted(data, reverse=True)
def sort_in_place(data):
"""Sort the given list in place (modifies original)."""
…Browse by section
Each section groups closely related Python snippets.
Lists & loops — Python code examples
What you will find here
This page collects lists & loops 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.
Samples vs tutorials and challenges
Samples are quick reference — one concept per page. For step-by-step teaching, use our Python tutorials. To test yourself, try quizzes or coding challenges. Clean up style with the Python formatter.