Using Python's min() and max() Functions: Syntax, Examples, and Advanced Techniques

min() function

The min() built‑in returns the smallest of the given arguments or the smallest item of an iterable.

Syntax

min(x, y, z, ...)

Parameters

x – numeric expression.

y – numeric expression.

z – numeric expression.

Return value

Smallest value among the arguments.

Example

#!/usr/bin/python3
print("min(80,100,1000):", min(80,100,1000))
print("min(-20,100,400):", min(-20,100,400))
print("min(-80,-20,-10):", min(-80,-20,-10))
print("min(0,100,-400):", min(0,100,-400))

Output:

min(80,100,1000) : 80
min(-20,100,400) : -20
min(-80,-20,-10) : -80
min(0,100,-400) : -400

max() function

The max() built‑in returns the largest of the given arguments or the largest item of an iterable.

Syntax

max(x, y, z, ...)

Parameters

x – numeric expression.

y – numeric expression.

z – numeric expression.

Return value

Largest value among the arguments.

Example

#!/usr/bin/python3
print("max(80,100,1000):", max(80,100,1000))
print("max(-20,100,400):", max(-20,100,400))
print("max(-80,-20,-10):", max(-80,-20,-10))
print("max(0,100,-400):", max(0,100,-400))

Output:

max(80,100,1000): 1000
max(-20,100,400): 400
max(-80,-20,-10): -10
max(0,100,-400): 100

Advanced usage

Using key to find the element with the greatest absolute value:

a = [-9, -8, 1, 3, -4, 6]
result = max(a, key=lambda x: abs(x))
print(result)  # 6

Finding the dictionary entry with the highest price:

prices = {'A': 123, 'B': 450.1, 'C': 12, 'E': 444}
max_price = max(zip(prices.values(), prices.keys()))
print(max_price)  # (450.1, 'B')

When values are equal, max compares keys; similarly, min can be used to find the smallest value key.