List Sorting: The Difference Between Python's list.sort() and sorted()

In Python, the sorting tools `list.sort()` and `sorted()` have similar functions but essential differences. `list.sort()` is a list method that **modifies the original list in place** and returns `None`. In contrast, `sorted()` is a built-in function that **does not modify the original list** and returns a new sorted list. Both support the `reverse` parameter (to control ascending/descending order) and the `key` parameter (to define custom sorting rules), such as `reverse=True` for descending order or `key=lambda x: len(x)` for sorting by length. Application scenarios: `list.sort()` is suitable when the original list does not need to be preserved, while `sorted()` is preferred when the original list must be retained or when sorting other iterable objects like tuples or strings. The key distinction lies in whether the original list is modified and the return value; simply choose based on your requirements.