syntax – What does `<>` mean in Python?

syntax – What does `<>` mean in Python?

It means not equal to. It was taken from ABC (pythons predecessor) see here:

x < y, x <= y, x >= y, x > y, x = y, x <> y, 0 <= d < 10

Order tests (<> means not equals)

I believe ABC took it from Pascal, a language Guido began programming with.

It has now been removed in Python 3. Use != instead. If you are CRAZY you can scrap != and allow only <> in Py3K using this easter egg:

>>> from __future__ import barry_as_FLUFL
>>> 1 != 2
  File <stdin>, line 1
    1 != 2
       ^
SyntaxError: with Barry as BDFL, use <> instead of !=
>>> 1 <> 2
True

It means NOT EQUAL, but it is deprecated, use != instead.

syntax – What does `<>` mean in Python?

Its worth knowing that you can use Python itself to find documentation, even for punctuation mark operators that Google cant cope with.

>>> help(<>)

Comparisons

Unlike C, all comparison operations in Python have the same priority,
which is lower than that of any arithmetic, shifting or bitwise
operation. Also unlike C, expressions like a < b < c have the
interpretation that is conventional in mathematics:

Comparisons yield boolean values: True or False.

Comparisons can be chained arbitrarily, e.g., x < y <= z is
equivalent to x < y and y <= z, except that y is evaluated
only once (but in both cases z is not evaluated at all when x <
y is found to be false).

The forms <> and != are equivalent; for consistency with C,
!= is preferred; where != is mentioned below <> is also
accepted. The <> spelling is considered obsolescent.

See http://docs.python.org/2/reference/expressions.html#not-in