---
title: "min"
space: "Student Handbook"
url: "https://portal.cs17.org/student-handbook/python-manual/built-in-functions/min"
updated: "2026-10-05"
---

Returns the smallest of several values.

## Synopsis

```python
min(value1, value2, ...)
min(list)
```

## Description

Give `min` two or more values, or one list.

## Parameters

| Name | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `values` | Two or more values, or one list. They must be comparable: all numbers, or all strings. |

## Return value

The smallest value.

## Example

```python
print(min(3, 7, 1))
print(min([4.5, 2.5, 9]))
```

It prints:

```text
1
2.5
```

## Common mistake

```python
print(min("10", "9"))
```

It prints:

```text
10
```

Strings are compared letter by letter, and `"1"` comes before `"9"`, so `"10"` counts as smaller. Convert numbers you read with `input` before comparing them.

## See also

[max](/student-handbook/python-manual/built-in-functions/max), [sum](/student-handbook/python-manual/built-in-functions/sum), [list.sort](/student-handbook/python-manual/lists/sort)

[min in the Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#min)