Python Program to find Smallest Number in a List

Write a Python Program to find the Smallest Number in a List using the min function, for loop, and sort function with a practical example. The min() function returns the least value, the sort() function sorts the list in ascending order, and the first value will be the least.

Python Program to find the Smallest Number in a List using min

The min function returns the minimum value in a List.

# Example

a = [10, 50, 60, 80, 20, 15]

print("The Smallest Element in this List is : ", min(a))

The smallest list number output

The Smallest Element in this List is : 10

min() function Example 2

This Python program is the same as above. But this time, we are allowing the user to enter the length of a List. Next, we used For Loop to add numbers to the Python list.

NumList = []
Number = int(input("Please enter the Total Number of List Elements: "))
for i in range(1, Number + 1):
    value = int(input("Please enter the Value of %d Element : " %i))
    NumList.append(value)

print("The Smallest Element in this List is : ", min(NumList))

Python Program to find the Smallest Number in a List using the sort function

The sort function sorts List elements in ascending order. Next, we are using Index position 0 to print the first element in a List.

a = [100, 50, 60, 80, 20, 15]

a.sort()
print("The Smallest Element in this List is : ", a[0])

The minimum list number using the sort function output.

The Smallest Element in this List is : 20

This list’s smallest number is the same as above. But this time, we allow users to enter their list items.

NumList = []
Number = int(input("Please enter the Total Number of List Elements: "))
for i in range(1, Number + 1):
    value = int(input("Please enter the Value of %d Element : " %i))
    NumList.append(value)

NumList.sort()
print("The Smallest Element in this List is : ", NumList[0])

Python Program to find the Smallest Number in a List using for loop

In this program, we are not using any built-in function such as the sort or min function.

NumList = []
Number = int(input("Please enter the Total Number of List Elements: "))
for i in range(1, Number + 1):
    value = int(input("Please enter the Value of %d Element : " %i))
    NumList.append(value)

smallest = NumList[0]    
for j in range(1, Number):
    if(smallest > NumList[j]):
        smallest = NumList[j]
        position = j

print("The Smallest Element in this List is : ", smallest)
print("The Index position of the Smallest Element is : ", position)

From the above Python Program to find the Smallest Number in a List example, the User inserted values are
NumList[5] = {223, 43, 22, 67, 54}
smallest = NumList[0] = 223

First Iteration – for 1 in range(1, 5) – Condition is true
So, it executes the If statement inside the loop until the condition fails.

if (smallest > NumList[j]) inside the for loop is True because (223 > 43)
smallest = NumList[1]
smallest = 43
position = 1

Second Iteration: for 2 in range(1, 5) – Condition is true
If (smallest > NumList[2])  =  (43 > 22) – Condition True
smallest = NumList[2]
smallest = 22
Position = 2

Third Iteration: for 3 in range(1, 5) – Condition is true
If (smallest > NumList[3])  =  (22 > 67) – Condition False
smallest = 22
Position = 2

Fourth Iteration: for 4 in range(1, 5) – Condition is true
If (22 > 54) – Condition False
smallest = 22
Position = 2

Fifth Iteration: for 5 in range(1, 5) – Condition is False
So, it exits from the loop.

If you want the while loop code, replace the for loop with the below code.

j = 1
while j < Number:
    if(smallest > NumList[j]):
        smallest = NumList[j]
        position = j
    j = j + 1