[Python-ideas] Allow key='attribute_name' to various sorting functions

[Markus Unterwaditzer]

Ram Rachum <ram.rachum at gmail.com> wrote:

>I often want to sort objects by an attribute. It's cumbersome to do
>this:
>
>    sorted(entries, key=lambda entry: entry.datetime_created)
>
>Why not allow this instead:
>
>    sorted(entries, key='datetime_created')
>
>The `sorted` function can check whether the `key` argument is a string,
>and 
>if so do an attribute lookup.
>
>Since I see no other possible use of a string input to `key`, I don't
>see 
>how this feature would harm anyone.
>
>What do you think?
>
>
>Thanks,
>Ram.
>
>
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I think it's a very bad idea to try to overload the key argument, imo a separate kwarg of sorted would be fine though. E.g:

sorted(iterable, attribute='someattr')

-- Markus (from phone)