TheFlyingDutchman wrote: >> Else, you could as well write your own testing function: >> >> def str_starts_with(astring, *prefixes): >> startswith = astring.startswith >> for prefix in prefixes: >> if startswith(prefix): >> return true >> return false >> > > What is the reason for > startswith = astring.startswith > startswith(prefix) > > instead of > astring.startswith(prefix) > It's an optimization: the assigment creates a "bound method" (i.e. a method associated with a specific string instance) and avoids having to look up the startswith method of astring for each iteration of the inner loop.
Probably not really necessary, though, and they do say that premature optimization is the root of all evil ... regards Steve -- Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119 Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com Skype: holdenweb http://del.icio.us/steve.holden --------------- Asciimercial ------------------ Get on the web: Blog, lens and tag the Internet Many services currently offer free registration ----------- Thank You for Reading ------------- -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
