Hey everyone! I have a pretty straightforward question about operator precedence in Python. I want to know which operators have higher precedence: the equality operators (==, !=) or the comparison operators (>, =, <=). According to the Python documentation, they all seem to have the same precedence and associativity. However, I tested this with the expression `print(5 < 5 == 5 <= 5)`, and got `False`.
Based on the documentation, I expected it to return `True`. Here's my reasoning: if we evaluate it from left to right, `5 < 5` gives `False`, so we get `0 == 5 <= 5`. Then `0 == 5` results in `False`, leaving us with `0 <= 5`, which should evaluate to `True`. So I'm a bit puzzled. What's your take on this? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Yeah, the expression is effectively wrapped in parentheses from Python's perspective, like this: `print((5 < 5) == (5 <= 5))`. It's not typical behavior in languages that I've worked with, so I get your confusion.
The operators do have the same precedence, but Python evaluates them using chaining. Essentially, `5 < 5 == 5 <= 5` is interpreted as `5 < 5 and 5 == 5 and 5 <= 5`. To get the evaluation you’re expecting, you should use parentheses like this: `(5 < 5) == (5 <= 5).`
You nailed it! Chaining is definitely the key here. Just a small correction though: if you want to replicate the exact scenario you described, it should be `((5 < 5) == 5) <= 5`.
If you find yourself tangled in these precedence rules often, it might be easier to just rewrite your expression to avoid ambiguity.
You're right, thanks for clarifying that!