Python numpy.square vs **

Question

Is there a difference between numpy.square and using the ** operator on a Numpy array?

From what I can see it yields the same result.

Answer 1

You can check the execution time to get clear picture of it

In [2]: import numpy as np
In [3]: A = np.array([[2, 2],[2, 2]])
In [7]: %timeit np.square(A)
1000000 loops, best of 3: 923 ns per loop
In [8]: %timeit A ** 2
1000000 loops, best of 3: 668 ns per loop