Use the `sort()` method to sort a list in place or the `sorted()` function to return a new sorted list without modifying the original.

Sorting lists in Python can be accomplished using two primary methods: the sort() method and the sorted() function. The sort() method modifies the list in place, while sorted() returns a new sorted list without changing the original list.

Using sort() Method

To sort a list in place, you can use:

my_list = [3, 1, 4, 1, 5]
my_list.sort()
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 1, 3, 4, 5]

You can also customize the sorting behavior by providing a key function and a reverse boolean argument:

my_list.sort(key=lambda x: -x)  # Sort in descending order

Using sorted() Function

If you want to maintain the original list, use the sorted() function:

original_list = [3, 1, 4, 1, 5]
sorted_list = sorted(original_list)
print(sorted_list)  # Output: [1, 1, 3, 4, 5]
print(original_list)  # Output: [3, 1, 4, 1, 5]

The sorted() function can also accept key and reverse parameters for custom sorting. Understanding how to sort lists effectively is crucial for data manipulation and analysis in Python.