comparing tuples

[Baba]

On Aug 22, 7:12 pm, Tim Chase <python.l... at tim.thechases.com> wrote:
> On 08/22/10 12:50, Baba wrote:
>
>
>
> > level: beginners
>
> > I was trying to write simple code that compares 2 tuples and returns
> > any element in the second tuple that is not in the first tuple.
>
> > def tuples(t1, t2):
> >      result = []
> >      for b in t2:
> >          for a in t1:
> >              if b == a:
> >                  break
> >          else:
> >              result=result+[b,]
> >      return result
>
> > print tuples([0,5,6], [0,5,6,3,7])
>
> > the code works but i was surprised by the following: my understanding
> > was that an ELSE clause is part of an IF statement. Therefore it comes
> > at the same indentation as the IF statement.
>
> The ELSE clause can be used either with an IF (as you know) or
> with a FOR loop, which is interpreted as "if this loop reached
> the end naturally instead of exiting via a BREAK statement,
> execute this block of code".
>
> If you reach the end of t1 without having found a value (and then
> issuing a "break"), then the current value of t2 (b) should be
> appended to the result.
>
> That said, unless order matters, I'd just use sets:
>
>    def tuples(t1, t2):
>      return list(set(t2)-set(t1))
>
> which should have better performance characteristics for large
> inputs.
>
> -tkc

Thanks Tim!