How to toggle a value in Python

Question

What is the most efficient way to toggle between 0 and 1?

Answer 1

How about an imaginary toggle that stores not only the current toggle, but a couple other values associated with it?

toggle = complex.conjugate

Store any + or - value on the left, and any unsigned value on the right:

>>> x = 2 - 3j
>>> toggle(x)
(2+3j)

Zero works, too:

>>> y = -2 - 0j
>>> toggle(y)
(-2+0j)

Easily retrieve the current toggle value (True and False represent + and -), LHS (real) value, or RHS (imaginary) value:

>>> import math
>>> curr = lambda i: math.atan2(i.imag, -abs(i.imag)) > 0
>>> lhs = lambda i: i.real
>>> rhs = lambda i: abs(i.imag)
>>> x = toggle(x)
>>> curr(x)
True
>>> lhs(x)
2.0
>>> rhs(x)
3.0

Easily swap LHS and RHS (but note that the sign of the both values must not be important):

>>> swap = lambda i: i/-1j
>>> swap(2+0j)
2j
>>> swap(3+2j)
(2+3j)

Easily swap LHS and RHS and also toggle at the same time:

>>> swaggle = lambda i: i/1j
>>> swaggle(2+0j)
-2j
>>> swaggle(3+2j)
(2-3j)

Guards against errors:

>>> toggle(1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 1, in 
TypeError: descriptor 'conjugate' requires a 'complex' object but received a 'int'

Perform changes to LHS and RHS:

>>> x += 1+2j
>>> x
(3+5j)

...but be careful manipulating the RHS:

>>> z = 1-1j
>>> z += 2j
>>> z
(1+1j) # whoops! toggled it!