Sort list of dictionaries

[techie1991]

I want to sort a list of dictionaries using the inbuilt sort() function for lists. The problem is I am not able to understand, how to give the function a key..

Example:

a={'name':1,'data':200}
b={'name':2,'data':400}
c=[a,b]

Now, I want to sort the list c with the key being a. If i use c.sort(), it gives me an error as dictionaries can not be compared. Either I can use a sorting algorithm but that would make my program too complex.
So, can anyone suggest me a beeter approach.

[TrustyTony]

For me they sorted normally:

a={'name':1,'data':200}
b={'name':2,'data':400}
c=[a,b]
print sorted(c,key=lambda x: x['name'])

[techie1991]

OK, thanks. now I understood. Actually I was trying to give it a key like:

c.sort(key=a['name'])
#OR
c.sort(key=['name'])

It actually didn't strike me that I should be using a lambda function.

[techie1991]

Can someone tell me the algorithm used by the functions sorted() and

• .sort()?

[techie1991]

Can someone tell me the algorithm used by the functions sorted() and

• .sort()?

[vegaseat]

An adaptive merge sort is built into Python since version 2.3
It offers a good combination of high speed and stability.

[TrustyTony]

It is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timsort
See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1517347/about-pythons-built-in-sort-method
http://wiki.python.org/moin/HowTo/Sorting/