Does Python optimize regexes?

[Aahz]

In article <mailman.296.1088566178.27577.python-list at python.org>,
Jason Smith  <jhs at oes.co.th> wrote:
>
>The reason I asked is because I felt that re.compile() was less clear:
>
>someRegex = re.compile('searchforme')
>while something:
>	theString = getTheString()
>	if someRegex.search(theString):
>		celebrate()
>
>I wanted to remove someRegex since I can shave a line of code and some 
>confusion, but I was worried about re.search() in a loop.

My reasoning is slightly different.  I'm always forgetting with
re.search whether the pattern or string goes first; with re.compile, you
can't fail.  Yesterday I fixed a couple of bugs where someone else made
the same error....
-- 
Aahz (aahz at pythoncraft.com)           <*>         http://www.pythoncraft.com/

"Typing is cheap.  Thinking is expensive."  --Roy Smith, c.l.py