python · vstinner · Feb 19, 2026 · Feb 19, 2026 · Feb 19, 2026 · Feb 19, 2026
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_memoryview.py b/Lib/test/test_memoryview.py
@@ -575,6 +575,27 @@ def test_array_assign(self):
         m[:] = new_a
         self.assertEqual(a, new_a)
 
+    def test_compare_equal(self):
+        # A memoryview is equal to itself: there is no need to compare
+        # individual values. This is not true for float values since they can
+        # be NaN, and NaN is not equal to itself.
+        for int_format in 'bBhHiIlLqQ':
+            with self.subTest(format=int_format):
+                a = array.array(int_format, [1, 2, 3])
+                m = memoryview(a)
+                self.assertTrue(m == m)
+
+        for float_format in 'fd':
+            with self.subTest(format=int_format):
+                a = array.array(float_format, [1.0, 2.0, float('nan')])
+                m = memoryview(a)
+                # nan is not equal to nan
+                self.assertFalse(m == m)
+
+                a = array.array(float_format, [1.0, 2.0, 3.0])
+                m = memoryview(a)
+                self.assertTrue(m == m)
+
 
 class BytesMemorySliceTest(unittest.TestCase,
     BaseMemorySliceTests, BaseBytesMemoryTests):

diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2026-02-19-12-49-15.gh-issue-144995.Ob2oYJ.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2026-02-19-12-49-15.gh-issue-144995.Ob2oYJ.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Optimize :class:`memoryview` comparison: a :class:`memoryview` is equal to
+itself, there is no need to compare values. Patch by Victor Stinner.
diff --git a/Objects/memoryobject.c b/Objects/memoryobject.c
@@ -3122,6 +3122,29 @@ memory_richcompare(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, int op)
     }
     vv = VIEW_ADDR(v);
 
+    // For formats supported by the struct module a memoryview is equal to
+    // itself: there is no need to compare individual values.
+    // This is not true for float values since they can be NaN, and NaN
+    // is not equal to itself.  So only use this optimization on format known to
+    // not use floats.
+    if (v == w) {
+        int can_compare_ptr;
+        const char *format = vv->format;
+        if (format != NULL) {
+            // Include only formats known by struct, exclude formats "d" (double),
+            // "f" (float), "e" (16-bit float) and "P" (void*)
+            can_compare_ptr = (strchr("bBchHiIlLnNqQ?", format[0]) != NULL
+                               && format[1] == 0);
+        }
+        else {
+            can_compare_ptr = 1;
+        }
+        if (can_compare_ptr) {
+            equal = 1;
+            goto result;
+        }
+    }
+
     if (PyMemoryView_Check(w)) {
         if (BASE_INACCESSIBLE(w)) {
             equal = (v == w);
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
		Optimize :class:`memoryview` comparison: a :class:`memoryview` is equal to
		itself, there is no need to compare values. Patch by Victor Stinner.