[Python-Dev] Re: [I18n-sig] Re: Unicode debate (original) (raw)

Tim Peters tim_one@email.msn.com
Wed, 3 May 2000 01:05:59 -0400

[Guido]

When comparing 8-bit and Unicode strings, the presence of non-ASCII bytes in either should make the comparison fail; when ordering is important, we can make an arbitrary choice e.g. "\377" < u"\200".

[Toby]

I assume 'fail' means 'non-equal', rather than 'raises an exception'?

[Guido]

Yes, sorry for the ambiguity.

Huh! You sure about that? If we're setting up a case where meaningful comparison is impossible, isn't an exception more appropriate? The current

83479278 < "42" 1

probably traps more people than it helps.