Sometimes we use methods like variablename.lower() and sometimes we use methods like sorted(variablename) how do we know which one to use when?

Question

I am kind of new to python and there a certain time or certain method we use one approach on? Like when do we use functions with a . in front of them and when do we functions without a dot because it seems impossible to figure with method will be used when

i dont have examples

I don't think there's a way to know that except by memorization. You're aided by the fact that there are only 75 [builtins](https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html) (the ones like sorted().) Of those, probably only 10 of them are important. — Nick ODell, Aug 18 '23 at 17:51
Typically, by reading the docs or experience. From your 2 examples given, `lower` makes sense as being a method of strings as it operates on strings specifically. `sorted`, on the other hand works on any iterable, so it makes sense as a function. — Axe319, Aug 18 '23 at 17:52
By consulting the documentation. Note `sorted` is not a method. It is just a function. It isn't impossible for `something(arg)` to be a method, but typically, methods are invoked directly off of their instances, e.g. `some_instance.some_method()` — juanpa.arrivillaga, Aug 18 '23 at 17:57
Related: [What's the difference between a method and a function?](/q/155609/4518341) You might also want to read [What is the difference between `sorted(list)` vs `list.sort()`?](/q/22442378/4518341) (BTW [`random.shuffle`](//docs.python.org/3/library/random.html#random.shuffle) is an interesting counterexample.) — wjandrea, Aug 18 '23 at 22:30

Sometimes we use methods like variablename.lower() and sometimes we use methods like sorted(variablename) how do we know which one to use when?

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