I've been seriously diving into programming for about 8 months now, but I'm struggling to remember what I've learned. For example, I'm currently working with the 'sort' and 'sorted' functions in Python. While I can use them in my code today, I find that I forget the differences between them just a few days later. Are there effective ways to help me retain this knowledge? I really want to move beyond just learning the basics like loops!
3 Answers
It's totally normal to forget things when you're starting out! Think about how you learned vocabulary as a kid. Teachers didn't just review words for one day and expect you to memorize them overnight. They gave us homework and quizzes over a few weeks. The same goes for programming—repetition is key!
You're definitely not alone in feeling this way. In the early days, I struggled with the same issues. I learned that staying immersed in tech really helps. Interestingly, I took a 6-week break and didn't lose much knowledge at all. It seems like practice and real-world application really makes a difference!
One crucial thing is to actually practice what you learn. If you only study without applying it, you'll lose it all! Keep practicing consistently, and remember: 'sort' is an action, while 'sorted' indicates a state—it's a simple distinction once you get the hang of it!
That distinction is a bit tricky! In Python, 'sort()' is a method that sorts lists in place, while 'sorted()' creates a new sorted list from any iterable. Being hands-on with these concepts will help reinforce your understanding!