max()

The largest item of an iterable — or of several arguments — with an optional key function.

Built-in functionPython 1.0+Live demo
Common call
max(scores)
Returns
the item itself, not its index
Replaces
strings compare lexicographically: max(['10', '9']) is '9'
Watch out
empty iterable raises ValueError — pass default= to survive it
max(iterableiterable — The items to compare. Alternatively pass two or more positional arguments.type: iterable · required, *, keykey — One-argument function computing the comparison key, e.g. key=len.type: callable · default: None=None, defaultdefault — Returned when the iterable is empty. Without it, empty raises ValueError.type: Any · default: (none)=...)
→ Any

Demo

Live evaluation
Try:
Inputs
itemslistcomma-separated items
Output
['banana', 'apple', 'cherry'].max()
'cherry'

The demo’s comma-separated items are strings, so comparison is lexicographic — that is why ’9’ beats ’10’. Pass key=int in real code for numeric strings. An empty iterable raises exactly Python’s error.

Parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
iterableiterableyesThe items to compare. Alternatively pass two or more positional arguments.
keycallableno (None)One-argument function computing the comparison key, e.g. key=len.
defaultAnyno ((none))Returned when the iterable is empty. Without it, empty raises ValueError.

Return value

Any — The largest item. Empty iterable raises ValueError unless default is given. Also callable as max(a, b, ...).

Common patterns

Largest by a computed key
key gives you argmax behavior — the ITEM with the biggest key.
longest = max(words, key=len)
oldest  = max(users, key=lambda u: u.age)
Safe max of possibly-empty data
default turns the empty-sequence error into a value.
best = max(scores, default=0)
Clamping a value
The two-argument form pairs with min for range clamps.
clamped = max(lo, min(x, hi))

Examples

1. Max of an iterable
max([3, 1, 4, 1, 5])
Returns
5
2. Strings — lexicographic
max(["10", "9", "2"])
Returns
'9'
3. Two-argument form
max(3, 7)
Returns
7
4. Empty with default
max([], default=0)
Returns
0

Pitfalls

1. Empty iterable raises
Aggregating possibly-empty data needs the default keyword.
Raises
max([])
ValueError: max() arg is an empty sequence
Fix
max([], default=0)
0
2. Digit strings compare as text
Same trap as sorted — character order, not numeric order.
Surprising
max(["10", "9"])
'9'
Fix
max(["10", "9"], key=int)
'10'
3. max of a dict gives the largest KEY
Iterating a dict yields keys — use key= or .items() for value-based max.
Keys compared
max({"a": 3, "b": 1})
'b'
Largest by value
max(d, key=d.get)
'a'

When to use

Use it
  • Largest item, or item with the largest key (argmax)
  • Pairwise comparisons via the multi-argument form
  • Clamping combined with min
Reach for something else
  • Top-k items → heapq.nlargest
  • Max under a condition → max(filter(...), default=...)
  • Running maximum in a loop → track it yourself (one pass)

Notes

Complexity
O(n) — single pass
Return
an item from the input (not a copy)
CPython impl
Python/bltinmodule.c :: builtin_max
Memory
No allocation
Thread-safe
Yes for the scan; the source should not mutate concurrently

FAQ

Combine with index, or take the argmax over enumerate.

i = lst.index(max(lst))
# or, one pass:
i = max(range(len(lst)), key=lst.__getitem__)

History

3.4
The default keyword argument added.
2.5
The key keyword argument added.