Python efficiency of and vs multiple ifs

Question

Is there an efficiency difference between using and in an if statement and using multiple if statements? In other words, is something like

if expr1 == expr2 and         


        

Answer 1

Any differences in speed between using and and nested ifs will be minimal. You are barking up the wrong tree. Consider this tree:

if oftenTrueCondition and rarelyTrueCondition:

compared with

if rarelyTrueCondition and oftenTrueCondition:

So, unless the first condition must be evaluated first (it is a guard to stop the next expression from crashing or doing something silly/expensive), consider swapping the order of evaluation.