Python max() function returns the largest item in an iterable or the largest of two or more arguments.
It has two forms.
- max() function with objects
- max() function with iterable
max() function with objects
Unlike the max() function of C/C++, the max() function in Python can take any type of object and return the largest among them. In the case of strings, it returns the lexicographically largest value.
Syntax : max(arg1, arg2, *args[, key])
Parameters :
- arg1, arg2 : objects of the same datatype
- *args : multiple objects
- key : function where comparison of iterable is performed based on its return value
Returns : The maximum value
Example of Python max() function
Example 1: Finding the maximum of 3 integer variables
Python3
var1 = 4var2 = 8var3 = 2max_val = max(var1, var2, var3)print(max_val) |
Output :
8
Example 2: Finding the maximum of 3 string variables
By default, it will return the string with the maximum lexicographic value.
Python3
var1 = "Lazyroar"var2 = "for"var3 = "geek"max_val = max(var1, var2, var3)print(max_val) |
Output :
Lazyroar
Example 3: Finding the maximum of 3 string variables according to the length
We will be passing a key function in the max() method.
Python3
var1 = "Lazyroar"var2 = "for"var3 = "geek"max_val = max(var1, var2, var3, key=len)print(max_val) |
Output :
Lazyroar
Example 4: Python max() exception
If we pass parameters of different datatypes, then an exception will be raised.
Python3
integer = 5string = "geek"max_val = max(integer, string)print(max_val) |
Output :
TypeError: '>' not supported between instances of 'str' and 'int'
Example 5: Python max() float
Python3
list = [1.2, 1.3, 0.1]max_value = max(list)print(max_value) |
Output:
1.3
Example 6: Python max() index
Python3
# function to find minimum and maximum position in listdef maximum(a, n): # inbuilt function to find the position of maximum maxpos = a.index(max(a)) # printing the position print ("The maximum is at position", maxpos + 1)# driver codea = [3, 4, 1, 3, 4, 5]maximum(a, len(a)) |
Output:
The maximum is at position 6
max() function with iterable
When an iterable is passed to the max() function it returns the largest item of the iterable.
Syntax : max(iterable, *iterables[, key, default])
Parameters :
- iterable : iterable object like list or string.
- *iterables : multiple iterables
- key : function where comparison of iterable is performed based on its return value
- default : value if the iterable is empty
Returns : The maximum value.
Example 1: Finding the lexicographically maximum character in a string
Python3
string = "Lazyroar"max_val = max(string)print(max_val) |
Output :
s
Example 2: Finding the lexicographically maximum string in a string list
Python3
string_list = ["Geeks", "for", "Geeks"]max_val = max(string_list)print(max_val) |
Output :
for
Example 3: Finding the longest string in a string list.
Python3
string_list = ["Geeks", "for", "Geek"]max_val = max(string_list, key=len)print(max_val) |
Output :
Geeks
Example 4: If the iterable is empty, the default value will be displayed
Python3
dictionary = {}max_val = max(dictionary, default={1: "Geek"})print(max_val) |
Output :
{1: 'Geek'}
