[Python-Dev] Retrieve an arbitrary element from a set without removing it

[Paul Moore]

2009/10/23 John Arbash Meinel <john.arbash.meinel at gmail.com>:
> I was pretty surprised that it was 30% faster than "for x in s: pass". I
> assume it has something to do with a potential "else:" statement?

I'd imagine it's actually because it has to call next() a second time
and deal with the StopIteration exception - the loop has to end
normally, whereas the break form exits prematurely.

Paul.