'set' comes to mind, though I'm not sure if there are performance inplications with large amopunts of data.
>>> a=[1, 2, 3] >>> b=[2, 3, 1] >>> set(a) == set(b) True Cheers, Hans -----Original Message----- From: python-list-bounces+hans.dushanthakumar=hcn.com...@python.org [mailto:python-list-bounces+hans.dushanthakumar=hcn.com...@python.org] On Behalf Of Esmail Sent: Friday, 24 April 2009 11:31 AM To: python-list@python.org Subject: best way to compare contents of 2 lists? What is the best way to compare the *contents* of two different lists regardless of their respective order? The lists will have the same number of items, and be of the same type. E.g. a trivial example (my lists will be larger), a=[1, 2, 3] b=[2, 3, 1] should yield true if a==b I suppose I could sort them and then compare them. I.e., sorted(a)==sorted(b) I am wondering if there is a more efficient/preferred way to do so. Thanks, Esmail -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
