Python - max() function - GeeksforGeeks

Python – max() function

Last Updated : 13 Aug, 2020

The 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 returns 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 1 : Finding the maximum of 3 integer variables.

var1 = 4
var2 = 8
var3 = 2
  
max_val = max(var1, var2, var3)
print(max_val)

Output :

Example 2 : Finding the maximum of 3 string variables. By default it will return the string with the maximum lexographic value.

var1 = "geeks"
var2 = "for"
var3 = "geek"
  
max_val = max(var1, var2, var3)
print(max_val)

Output :

for

Example 3 : Finding the maximum of 3 string variables according to the length. We will be passing a key function in the max() method.

var1 = "geeks"
var2 = "for"
var3 = "geek"
  
max_val = max(var1, var2, var3,
              key = len)
print(max_val)

Output :

geeks

Example 4 : If we pass parameters of different datatypes, then a exception will be raised.

integer = 5
string = "geek"
  
max_val = max(integer, string)
print(max_val)

Output :

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

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 lexographically maximum character in a string.

string = "GeeksforGeeks"
  
max_val = max(string)
print(max_val)

Output :

Example 2 : Finding the lexographically maximum string in a string list.

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.

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.

dictionary = {}
  
max_val = max(dictionary,
              default = {1 : "Geek"})
print(max_val)

Output :

{1: 'Geek'}

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