Use Python’s built-in min() operate with the key argument to seek out the shortest string in a set. Name min(my_set, key=len) to return the shortest string within the set utilizing the built-in len() operate to find out the burden of every string—the shortest string has minimal size.
👉 Really helpful Tutorial: How you can Discover the Shortest String in a Python Listing?
Downside Formulation
Given a Python set of strings. Discover the string with the minimal variety of characters—the shortest string within the set.
Listed here are just a few instance units of strings and the specified output:
# {'Alice', 'Bob', 'Pete'} – --> 'Bob'
# {'aaa', 'aaaa', 'aa'} – --> 'aa'
# {''} – --> ''
# {} – --> ''
Technique 1: min() Perform with Key Argument Set to len()
Use Python’s built-in min() operate with a key argument to seek out the shortest string in a set like so: min(s, key=len). This returns the shortest string within the set s utilizing the built-in len() operate to find out the burden of every string—the shortest string would be the minimal.
Right here’s the code definition of the get_min_str() operate that takes a set of strings as enter and returns the shortest string within the listing or a ValueError if the set is empty.
def get_min_str(my_set):
return min(my_set, key=len)
Right here’s the output we get hold of when working our desired examples:
print(get_min_str({'Alice', 'Bob', 'Pete'}))
# 'Bob'
print(get_min_str({'aaa', 'aaaa', 'aa'}))
# 'aa'
print(get_min_str({''}))
# ''
When you go an empty set, Python will elevate a ValueError: min() arg is an empty sequence since you can’t go an empty iterable into the min() operate.
print(get_min_str({}))
# ValueError: min() arg is an empty sequence
Technique 2: Dealing with Empty Units
If you wish to return an alternate worth in case the set is empty, you possibly can modify the get_min_str() operate to incorporate a second elective argument:
def get_min_str(my_set, fallback=''):
return min(my_set, key=len) if my_set else fallback
print(get_min_str({}))
# ''
print(get_min_str({}, fallback='EMPTY!!!!!!'))
# EMPTY!!!!!!
Technique 3: Not-So-Pythonic with For Loop
A much less Pythonic however, for newbie coders, extra readable model is the next loop-based answer:
def get_min_str(my_set, fallback=''):
if not my_set:
return fallback
min_str="" # set will not be empty
for x in my_set:
if len(x) < len(max_str):
min_str = x
return min_str
print(get_min_str({'Alice', 'Bob', 'Pete'}))
# 'Bob'
print(get_min_str({'aaa', 'aaaa', 'aa'}))
# 'aa'
print(get_min_str({''}))
# ''
print(get_min_str({}, fallback='EMPTY!!!!!!'))
# EMPTY!!!!!!
Technique 4: Python Min Size of String in Set
To search out the minimal size of a string in a given set, use the min(my_set, key=len) operate to acquire the string with the minimal size after which go this min string into the len() operate to acquire the variety of characters.
len(min(my_set, key=len))Right here’s a extra detailed instance:
def get_min_str_length(my_set):
return len(max(my_set, key=len))
print(get_min_str_length({'Alice', 'Bob', 'Pete'}))
# 3
print(get_min_str_length({'aaa', 'aaaa', 'aa'}))
# 2
print(get_min_str_length({''}))
# 0
print(get_min_str_length({}))
# ValueError: min() arg is an empty sequence
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👉 Really helpful Tutorial: How you can Get the Most String in a Python Set?
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