The Python max function is used to find the maximum item of a given object. Or, say, Python max function returns the highest, largest, or biggest items in a given object.
In this section, we discuss how to use this Python max function on Tuple, List, Dictionary, and Sets with practical examples. The syntax of this function is:
# Simple Syntax max(Iterable) # Optional key argument max(Iterable, key) # Directly on arguments max(num1, num2, num3...., numN) max(num1, num2,......,numN, key)
Generally, the Python max function key value assigns to a default value. However, it accepts funcs. For example, key = function_name. Remember, either you can use the built-in functions like len, max, or your own custom-defined funcs.
Python max Example
In this example, we used the Python max function directly inside a print statement. The below code snippet finds the maximum Numeric Value within the given arguments.
print(max(19, 49, 229, 435, 212, 182)) print(max(212, 58, 12, 142, 192, 502, 12, 172, 182)) print(max(10, 20, 30, 40, 70)) print(max(421, 2, 102, 122))
435
502
70
421
Python max Tuple Example
This example finds the maximum item in a Tuple using the max function. It means finding the largest value in this Python tuple. First, we declared an integer tuple and finding the highest value inside an integer tuple. Next, we are finding the largest value inside a string tuple.
NOTE: Finding the largest in string tuple means it returns the word that starts with the highest Alphabet.
# Tuple Example Tp = (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72,82) print(max(Tp)) StrTp = ('berry', 'orange', 'banana', 'mango') print(max(StrTp))
82
orange
Python max List Example
This max function also helps you to find the maximum list item available in a given List. Here, we declared a numeric list and found the maximum value in that list using it. Next, we are fining the largest item in a string list.
# List Example LiA = [187, 20, 42, 212, 502, 12, 172, 182] print("\n Original Object = ", LiA) print("Largest Value in this List = ", max(LiA)) StrLiA = ['cherry', 'berry', 'banana', 'mango'] print("\n Original String = ", StrLiA) print("Largest String in a List = ", max(StrLiA))

max Dictionary
The Python max function helps you find the maximum value in the Dictionary. When working with a dictionary,
- If you use the keys function along with this, then it finds the maximum key within a Dictionary.
- Use along with dictionary values, finds the largest value in dictionary.
# Dictionary Example maxDictionary = {7: 100, 2: 40, 9: 10, 5: 60, 1: 420, 3: 120} print("Largest Key = ", max(maxDictionary.keys())) print("Largest Value = ", max(maxDictionary.values())) maxStringDictionary = {1: 'grape', 2: 'banana', 3: 'cherry'} print("Largest Key = ", max(maxStringDictionary.keys())) print("Largest Value = ", max(maxStringDictionary.values()))
Largest Key = 9
Largest Value = 420
Largest Key = 3
Largest Value = grape
maximum set Item Example
This method also returns the maximum set item from given set items. We declared an integer set and found the maximum set value in it. Next, we are finding the largest item (starts with the highest Alphabet) of a string set.
# Set Example setA = {19, 49, 229, 435, 212, 502, 172, 182} print(max(setA)) StringStA = {'cherry', 'berry', 'kiwi', 'banana', 'grape'} print(max(StringStA))
502
kiwi
In this example, we show how to use the set key argument with this Python max Function. To demonstrate the same, we created a method called the sum of the list. It returns the sum of individual digits in a number.
Please refer Sum of Digits article to understand the logic.
Next, we used this Python max function as the set key. It means this will returns the List Item, whose sum of digits is the largest.
def sum_of_Num(Number): Sum = 0 if(Number > 0): Reminder = Number % 10 Sum = Sum + Reminder sum_of_Num(Number //10) return Sum LtA = [187, 20, 42, 212, 502, 12, 172, 182] print("Maximum Value in a List = ", max(LtA, key = sum_of_Num)) StA = {19, 49, 229, 435, 212, 502, 172, 182} print("\nMaximum Value in a Set = ", max(StA, key = sum_of_Num))
Maximum Value in a List = 187
Maximum Value in a Set = 229
You can also use built-in functions as the key value in this method. In this example, we use len method as the key.
Here, The Python max function returns a list whose length is maximum (highest number of set items). Next, we declared three different lists of numeric values. Using this, we are returning a set with maximum length.
ls1 = [187, 20, 42, 212] ls2 = [212, 58, 12, 142, 192, 502, 12, 172, 182] ls3 = [421, 2, 102, 122] print("List = ", max(ls1, ls2, ls3, key = len)) # Set Example 2 seA1 = {19, 49, 229, 435, 212, 502, 182, 1200} seA2 = {9, 249, 977} seA3 = {10, 20, 30, 40, 70} print("Set = ", max(seA1, seA2, seA3, key = len)) print(max(ls1, seA1, key = len)) print(max(ls1, seA2, key = len)) print(max(ls1, seA3, key = len)) print(max(ls2, seA1, key = len))
List = [212, 58, 12, 142, 192, 502, 12, 172, 182]
Set = {229, 1200, 49, 435, 19, 212, 502, 182}
{229, 1200, 49, 435, 19, 212, 502, 182}
[187, 20, 42, 212]
{20, 70, 40, 10, 30}
[212, 58, 12, 142, 192, 502, 12, 172, 182]