I don't understand how the while loop efficiently tests if the list is empty. Why would going through the entire list be a good test to simply see find out if the list is empty or not.
Wouldn't you want to test the list itself, rather than the contents of it? Cheers, T -------- Original-Nachricht -------- > Datum: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:52:40 -0400 > Von: Dave Angel <[email protected]> > An: Wayne <[email protected]> > CC: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Betreff: Re: [Tutor] Testing for empty list > > > Wayne wrote: > > Hi, I think I recall seeing this here, but I wanted to make sure I'm > > correct. > > Is the best way to test for an empty list just test for the truth value? > > I.e. > > > > mylist = [1,2,3] > > > > while mylist: > > print mylist.pop() > > > > Thanks, > > Wayne > > > > > My take is simple: Use the above form if you *know* that mylist is in > fact a list. If you don't know its type for sure (the name is a clue, > but not conclusive ;-) ) then use a more specific test. > > In your case, you know it's a list, or least something that supports > pop(). So your form should be great. > > DaveA > _______________________________________________ > Tutor maillist - [email protected] > To unsubscribe or change subscription options: > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor -- GRATIS für alle GMX-Mitglieder: Die maxdome Movie-FLAT! Jetzt freischalten unter http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/maxdome01 _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
