Python | Pandas Series.sort_values()

Pandas series is a One-dimensional ndarray with axis labels. The labels need not be unique but must be a hashable type. The object supports both integer- and label-based indexing and provides a host of methods for performing operations involving the index.

Pandas Series.sort_values() function is used to sort the given series object in ascending or descending order by some criterion. The function also provides the flexibility of choosing the sorting algorithm.

Syntax: Series.sort_values(axis=0, ascending=True, inplace=False, kind=’quicksort’, na_position=’last’)

Parameter :
axis : Axis to direct sorting.
ascending : If True, sort values in ascending order, otherwise descending.
inplace : If True, perform operation in-place.
kind : Choice of sorting algorithm.
na_position : Argument ‘first’ puts NaNs at the beginning, ‘last’ puts NaNs at the end.

Returns : Series

Example #1: Use Series.sort_values() function to sort the elements of the given series object in lexicographical order.

# importing pandas as pd
import pandas as pd

# Creating the Series
sr = pd.Series(['New York', 'Chicago', 'Toronto', 'Lisbon', 'Rio', 'Moscow'])

# Create the Datetime Index
didx = pd.DatetimeIndex(start ='2014-08-01 10:00', freq ='W',
                     periods = 6, tz = 'Europe/Berlin')

# set the index
sr.index = didx

# Print the series
print(sr)

Output :

Now we will use Series.sort_values() function to sort the elements of the given series object in ascending order.

# sort the values in ascending order
sr.sort_values()

Output :

As we can see in the output, the Series.sort_values() function has successfully sorted the elements of the given series object in ascending order.

Example #2: Use Series.sort_values() function to sort the elements of the given series object in descending order.

# importing pandas as pd
import pandas as pd

# Creating the Series
sr = pd.Series([19.5, 16.8, 22.78, 20.124, 18.1002])

# Print the series
print(sr)

Output :

Now we will use Series.sort_values() function to sort the elements of the given series object in descending order.

# sort the values in descending order
sr.sort_values(ascending = False)

Output :

As we can see in the output, the Series.sort_values() function has successfully sorted the elements of the given series object in descending order.