Python String min() Method

The Python string min() method compares the characters of a string lexicographically and displays the minimum valued character. That means, the method internally compares the ASCII values of each character within the string and prints the lowest valued character.

The min() method can be used in various ordering techniques, for example: sorting techniques. It comes in handy when a sequence of characters are to be arranged in either ascending order or descending order. This method is also used to create few tree data structures or heap data structures using Python.

Syntax

Following is the syntax for Python String min() method −

min(str)

Parameters

• str − This is the string from which min alphabetical character needs to be returned.

Return Value

This method returns the min alphabetical character from the string str.

Example

The following example shows the usage of Python String min() method.

str = "this-is-real-string-example....wow!!!"
print("Min character: " + min(str))

When we run above program, it produces following result −

Min character: !

Example

In all alphabetical string including whitespaces, the minimum character returned by the method is a whitespace.

Following example takes an alphabetical input string containing whitespaces. We then call the min() method on this string. The return value will be a whitespace character present in the string.

str = "this is a string example"
print("Min character: " + min(str))

The output for the program above is diplayed as follows −

Min character:  

Example

In a string including alphabets and digits, the minimum character returned by the method is the smallest digit.

Following example takes an input string containing alphabets and digits. We then call the min() method on this string. The return value will be displayed as the output of the program.

str = "hello82"
print("Min character: " + min(str))

The output for the program above is diplayed as follows −

Min character: 2