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Fully define min and max #328

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800b4d8
Fully define `min` and `max`
lgalfaso Dec 6, 2025
a1dfda5
Clarify the description of the built-in functions min/max
lgalfaso Feb 15, 2026
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26 changes: 20 additions & 6 deletions spec.md
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Expand Up @@ -3461,10 +3461,17 @@ With no argument, `list()` returns a new empty list.

### max

`max(x)` returns the greatest element in the collection `x`.
`max(x)` returns the greatest element.

It is an error if any element does not support ordered comparison,
or if the collection is empty.
When called with one positional argument, `max(x, key=None)` returns the greatest
element in the iterable value x. It is an error if x is empty, not iterable, or if
any of its elements do not support ordered comparison with others.

When called with 2 or more positional arguments, `max(key=None, *args)` returns
the greatest of its positional args. It is an error if any of the positional
arguments do not support ordered comparison with others.

It is an error to call max with no positional arguments.

The optional named parameter `key` specifies a function to be applied
to each element, whose result is used for the comparison in place of
Expand All @@ -3478,10 +3485,17 @@ max("two", "three", "four", key=len) # "three", the longest

### min

`min(x)` returns the least element in the collection `x`.
`min(x)` returns the smallest element.

When called with one positional argument, `min(x, key=None)` returns the smallest
element in the iterable value x. It is an error if x is empty, not iterable, or if
any of its elements do not support ordered comparison with others.

When called with 2 or more positional arguments, `min(key=None, *args)` returns
the smallest of its positional args. It is an error if any of the positional
arguments do not support ordered comparison with others.

It is an error if any element does not support ordered comparison,
or if the collection is empty.
It is an error to call min with no positional arguments.

The optional named parameter `key` specifies a function to be applied
to each element, whose result is used for the comparison in place of
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