Sorting a list in python from the second element on

Question

I want to sort a list but I want it to be sorted excluding the first element.

For example:

a = ['T', 4, 2, 1, 3]

Now I want the list to be sorted but the first element should stay in its place:

a = ['T', 1, 2, 3, 4]

I know this can be done by using a sorting algorithm but is there a one line way to do it or a more pythonic way to do this?

Sash Sinha · Answer 1 · 2017-05-03T23:33:52.270

3

You can do so by slice assignment where you replace a slice of a with a sorted slice of a:

>>> a = ['T',4,2,1,3]
>>> a[1:] = sorted(a[1:])
>>> a
['T', 1, 2, 3, 4]

edited May 03 '17 at 23:33

answered May 03 '17 at 21:58

Sash Sinha

2

Can you explain assignment to a slice? – Peter Wood May 03 '17 at 22:16
@PeterWood I added a line describing it, OP can search the term on their own to find answers explaining it in great detail (much better than I can). – Sash Sinha May 03 '17 at 23:37

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered May 03 '17 at 21:59

3

You could slice it, sort the trailing slice and concatenate it afterwards:

>>> a = a[:1] + sorted(a[1:])
>>> a
['T', 1, 2, 3, 4]

answered May 03 '17 at 21:59

MSeifert

2 Answers2