Python min() Function

Python min() function returns the smallest of the values or the smallest item in an iterable passed as its parameter.

Python min() Function Example

Output:

1

There are two types of usages of the Python min() function:

• min() functions with objects
• min() functions with an iterable

Python min() Function Syntax

The min() function in Python can take any type of object of similar type and returns the smallest among them. In the case of strings, it returns lexicographically the smallest value.

Syntax: min(a, b, c, …, key=func)

• a, b, c, .. : similar type of data.
• key (optional): A function to customize the sort order

Return: Returns the smallest item.

Using Python min() function to find the minimum item among the similar types of objects.

Output:

4

Python min() Function with an Iterable

The Python min() function can take any iterable and returns the smallest item in an iterable.

Syntax: min(iterable, key=func)

• iterable: Any Python iterable (ex.: list, tuple, set, dict, etc.)
• key (optional): function to customize the sorting of items in an iterable.

Return: Returns the smallest item in an iterable.

Using Python min() function to find the minimum element in an iterable.

Output:

1
a
7

Customizing the sort order

To customize the sort order, a key parameter is passed to the min() function. Using Python min() function to find the string with minimum length among multiple strings.

Output:

GfG

Exception Raised: Demonstrating TypeError when using min() function.

TypeError is raised when conflicting data types are compared.

Output:

TypeError: '<' not supported between instances of 'str' and 'int'

Demonstrating ValueError when using min() function

ValueError is raised when an empty iterable is passed without the default argument.

Output:

ValueError: min() arg is an empty sequence