Parse Apache Logs for Top IPs | Dataford Interview Questions

Write a Python script to parse an Apache access log and return the top 10 IP addresses with the most requests.

Implement def top_ips(log_lines):, where log_lines is a list of Apache combined-log-format strings. Return a list of [ip, request_count] pairs ordered by decreasing request count, then lexicographically by IP for ties. Ignore blank or malformed lines that contain no first-field IP. If fewer than 10 distinct IP addresses exist, return all of them.

Constraints

0 <= len(log_lines) <= 500
Each valid line contains an IPv4 or IPv6 address as its first whitespace-separated field
Return at most 10 distinct IP addresses
Ordering is count descending, then IP lexicographically ascending

Function Signature

def top_ips(log_lines):

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Problem

Write a Python script to parse an Apache access log and return the top 10 IP addresses with the most requests.

Constraints

0 <= len(log_lines) <= 500
Each valid line contains an IPv4 or IPv6 address as its first whitespace-separated field
Return at most 10 distinct IP addresses
Ordering is count descending, then IP lexicographically ascending

Function Signature

def top_ips(log_lines):

Your question is Parse Apache Logs for Top IPs. Start with the requirements in the Question tab.

Run and submit as often as you like. When you're ready, talk me through your approach or go straight to the code.