Python Universal Infinity Value

1.5 · active · verified Fri Apr 17

The `infinity` library for Python provides a universal, all-in-one infinity value (`inf`) that can be compared to any other object, including numbers, lists, strings, and custom types, offering more flexible comparison behavior than `float('inf')`. It is currently at version 1.5 and has an infrequent release cadence for its stable feature set, reflecting its simple and focused utility.

Common errors

```
NameError: name 'inf' is not defined
```
cause The `inf` object was not correctly imported from the `infinity` library.

fix Add `from infinity import inf` at the top of your Python script or module where you intend to use `inf`.
```
AttributeError: module 'infinity' has no attribute 'Infinity'
```
cause Attempting to instantiate a class named `Infinity` (e.g., `infinity.Infinity()`) instead of using the pre-defined singleton `inf`.

fix The `inf` object is a singleton and should be imported and used directly: `from infinity import inf; my_val = inf`.
```
TypeError: '<' not supported between instances of 'float' and 'str'
```
cause You are likely using `float('inf')` or `math.inf` for comparison against a non-numeric type (e.g., string, list). Standard Python floats do not support such comparisons.

fix Switch to `infinity.inf` for universal comparisons across different data types. Ensure you have `from infinity import inf` and use `inf` for these broader comparisons.

Warnings

gotcha Do not confuse `infinity.inf` with `float('inf')` or `math.inf`. While `infinity.inf` is equal to `float('inf')`, it offers enhanced comparison capabilities against non-numeric types that standard Python floats do not support.
Fix: Use `from infinity import inf` when you need to compare against arbitrary Python objects. Use `float('inf')` or `math.inf` for strictly numerical infinity within mathematical contexts.
gotcha `infinity.inf` is implemented as a singleton object. There is only one instance of `inf` and `-inf`. You should not attempt to create new instances or modify its state.
Fix: Always import `inf` directly via `from infinity import inf` and use it as is. Do not try to call `infinity.Infinity()` or similar constructs.
gotcha While `infinity.inf` handles comparisons broadly, its interaction with `float('nan')` (Not a Number) can be inconsistent due to `NaN`'s unique comparison rules (e.g., `NaN == NaN` is False). Comparing `inf` with `NaN` might not always yield intuitive results.
Fix: If your data might contain `NaN` values, explicitly check for `math.isnan()` before performing comparisons with `infinity.inf` to ensure your logic handles `NaN` as intended.

Install

pip install infinity Install infinity

Imports

inf
wrong:
```
import infinity; my_inf = infinity.Infinity()
```
correct:
```
from infinity import inf
```
The 'inf' object is a singleton and should be imported directly, not instantiated.

Quickstart

Demonstrates importing `inf` and its universal comparison capabilities with various data types, including numbers, strings, and collections, as well as accessing negative infinity.

from infinity import inf

# Universal comparison
print(f"inf > 1000: {inf > 1000}")
print(f"inf < 1000: {inf < 1000}")
print(f"inf == float('inf'): {inf == float('inf')}")

# Compare with non-numeric types (unique feature of infinity.inf)
print(f"inf > 'hello': {inf > 'hello'}")
print(f"inf > []: {inf > []}")
print(f"inf > {'a': 1}: {inf > {'a': 1}}")

# Using negative infinity
neg_inf = -inf
print(f"neg_inf < -1000: {neg_inf < -1000}")

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