symbian-qemu-0.9.1-12/python-2.6.1/Doc/library/bisect.rst
changeset 1 2fb8b9db1c86
equal deleted inserted replaced
0:ffa851df0825 1:2fb8b9db1c86
       
     1 
       
     2 :mod:`bisect` --- Array bisection algorithm
       
     3 ===========================================
       
     4 
       
     5 .. module:: bisect
       
     6    :synopsis: Array bisection algorithms for binary searching.
       
     7 .. sectionauthor:: Fred L. Drake, Jr. <fdrake@acm.org>
       
     8 .. example based on the PyModules FAQ entry by Aaron Watters <arw@pythonpros.com>
       
     9 
       
    10 This module provides support for maintaining a list in sorted order without
       
    11 having to sort the list after each insertion.  For long lists of items with
       
    12 expensive comparison operations, this can be an improvement over the more common
       
    13 approach.  The module is called :mod:`bisect` because it uses a basic bisection
       
    14 algorithm to do its work.  The source code may be most useful as a working
       
    15 example of the algorithm (the boundary conditions are already right!).
       
    16 
       
    17 The following functions are provided:
       
    18 
       
    19 
       
    20 .. function:: bisect_left(list, item[, lo[, hi]])
       
    21 
       
    22    Locate the proper insertion point for *item* in *list* to maintain sorted order.
       
    23    The parameters *lo* and *hi* may be used to specify a subset of the list which
       
    24    should be considered; by default the entire list is used.  If *item* is already
       
    25    present in *list*, the insertion point will be before (to the left of) any
       
    26    existing entries.  The return value is suitable for use as the first parameter
       
    27    to ``list.insert()``.  This assumes that *list* is already sorted.
       
    28 
       
    29    .. versionadded:: 2.1
       
    30 
       
    31 
       
    32 .. function:: bisect_right(list, item[, lo[, hi]])
       
    33 
       
    34    Similar to :func:`bisect_left`, but returns an insertion point which comes after
       
    35    (to the right of) any existing entries of *item* in *list*.
       
    36 
       
    37    .. versionadded:: 2.1
       
    38 
       
    39 
       
    40 .. function:: bisect(...)
       
    41 
       
    42    Alias for :func:`bisect_right`.
       
    43 
       
    44 
       
    45 .. function:: insort_left(list, item[, lo[, hi]])
       
    46 
       
    47    Insert *item* in *list* in sorted order.  This is equivalent to
       
    48    ``list.insert(bisect.bisect_left(list, item, lo, hi), item)``.  This assumes
       
    49    that *list* is already sorted.
       
    50 
       
    51    .. versionadded:: 2.1
       
    52 
       
    53 
       
    54 .. function:: insort_right(list, item[, lo[, hi]])
       
    55 
       
    56    Similar to :func:`insort_left`, but inserting *item* in *list* after any
       
    57    existing entries of *item*.
       
    58 
       
    59    .. versionadded:: 2.1
       
    60 
       
    61 
       
    62 .. function:: insort(...)
       
    63 
       
    64    Alias for :func:`insort_right`.
       
    65 
       
    66 
       
    67 Examples
       
    68 --------
       
    69 
       
    70 .. _bisect-example:
       
    71 
       
    72 The :func:`bisect` function is generally useful for categorizing numeric data.
       
    73 This example uses :func:`bisect` to look up a letter grade for an exam total
       
    74 (say) based on a set of ordered numeric breakpoints: 85 and up is an 'A', 75..84
       
    75 is a 'B', etc.
       
    76 
       
    77    >>> grades = "FEDCBA"
       
    78    >>> breakpoints = [30, 44, 66, 75, 85]
       
    79    >>> from bisect import bisect
       
    80    >>> def grade(total):
       
    81    ...           return grades[bisect(breakpoints, total)]
       
    82    ...
       
    83    >>> grade(66)
       
    84    'C'
       
    85    >>> map(grade, [33, 99, 77, 44, 12, 88])
       
    86    ['E', 'A', 'B', 'D', 'F', 'A']
       
    87 
       
    88