How Can I Efficiently Compare a String to Multiple Values in Python?

Comparing a String to Multiple Items in Python

When comparing a string to multiple possible values for validity, an efficient approach is to utilize a set data structure. Here's how it works:

Instead of using multiple if statements to compare the string to each valid option, convert the valid strings into a set, named accepted_strings:

accepted_strings = {'auth', 'authpriv', 'daemon'}

With the set in place, use the in operator to test for containment:

if facility in accepted_strings:
    do_stuff()

This approach offers O(1) average-time complexity for containment checks, making it highly efficient, especially when dealing with a large number of valid strings.

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