[FIXED] Why does 4 < '3' return True in Python 2?

Issue

Why does 4 < '3' return True in Python 2?

Is it because when I place single quotes around a number Python sees it as a string and strings are bigger than numbers?

Solution

Yes, any number will be less than any string (including the empty string) in Python 2.

In Python 3, you can't make arbitrary comparisons. You'll get a TypeError.

---

From the link in eryksun's comment:

if (PyNumber_Check(v))
    vname = "";
else
    vname = v->ob_type->tp_name;
if (PyNumber_Check(w))
    wname = "";
else
    wname = w->ob_type->tp_name;
c = strcmp(vname, wname);

So at least in recent versions of CPython 2.x, type names are compared, with an empty string used instead of the type name for any numeric type.

Answered By - agf