Checking if two strings are permutations of each other in Python

Question

I\'m checking if two strings a and b are permutations of each other, and I\'m wondering what the ideal way to do this is in Python. From the Zen of

Answer 1

Here is a way which is O(n), asymptotically better than the two ways you suggest.

import collections

def same_permutation(a, b):
    d = collections.defaultdict(int)
    for x in a:
        d[x] += 1
    for x in b:
        d[x] -= 1
    return not any(d.itervalues())

## same_permutation([1,2,3],[2,3,1])
#. True

## same_permutation([1,2,3],[2,3,1,1])
#. False