python sort返回none,为什么'.sort（）'在Python中导致列表为'None'？

I am attempting to sort a Python list of ints and then use the .pop() function to return the highest one. I have tried a writing the method in different ways:

def LongestPath(T):

paths = [Ancestors(T,x) for x in OrdLeaves(T)]

#^ Creating a lists of lists of ints, this part works

result =[len(y) for y in paths ]

#^ Creating a list of ints where each int is a length of the a list in paths

result = result.sort()

#^meant to sort the result

return result.pop()

#^meant to return the largest int in the list (the last one)

I have also tried

def LongestPath(T):

return[len(y) for y in [Ancestors(T,x) for x in OrdLeaves(T)] ].sort().pop()

In both cases .sort() causes the list to be None (which has no .pop() function and returns an error). When I remove the .sort() it works fine but does not return the largest int since the list is not sorted.

解决方案

Simply remove the assignment from

result = result.sort()

leaving just

result.sort()

The sort method works in-place (it modifies the existing list), so no assignment is necessary, and it returns None. When you assign its result to the name of the list, you're assigning None.

It can easily (and more efficiently) be written as a one-liner:

max(len(Ancestors(T,x)) for x in OrdLeaves(T))

max operates in linear time, O(n), while sorting is O(nlogn). You also don't need nested list comprehensions, a single generator expression will do.