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design of python: why is assert a statement and not a function?

In Python 3, print was made into a function. What are the benefits of having assert be a statement?

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  • well, it's not supposed to return anything, maybe that's why Commented Dec 11, 2012 at 22:14
  • print is not supposed to return anything either :) Commented Dec 11, 2012 at 22:15
  • @MikeCorcoran -- I was just about to point that out. :) Commented Dec 11, 2012 at 22:17
  • Oops, sorry both. Voted to close. Commented Dec 11, 2012 at 22:17

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For optimization. If you run your Python script with the -O option no code will be generated for assert statements. This would not be possible if assert were a function.

See the documentation on assert, which references this behavior.

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+1. I wonder whether pypy be able to optimize away empty functions one day…

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