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Home » Python

Python Identity Operators

Last Updated : April 21, 2025

Identity Operators

Python identity operators are used to perform the comparison operation on the objects i.e. these operators check whether both operands refer to the same objects (with the same memory location) or not.

Following are the identity operators,

Operator	Descriptions	Example
is	It returns True if both operands refer to the same objects; False, otherwise.	x is y
is not	It returns True if both operands do not refer to the same objects; False, otherwise.	x is not y

1. Python 'is' Operator

The "is" an identity operator which returns True if both operands refer to the same objects; False, otherwise.

Syntax

Below is the syntax of "is" operator:

x is y

Python 'is' Operator Example

# Python program to demonstrate the 
# example of identity operators

x = [10, 20, 30]
y = [10, 20, 30]
z = x

# Comparing the values using == operator
print("x == y: ", x == y)
print("y == z: ", y == z)
print("z == x: ", z == x)
print()

# Comparing the objects 
# whether they are referring 
# the same objects or not
print("x is y: ", x is y)
print("y is z: ", y is z)
print("z is x: ", z is x)
print()

Output

x == y:  True
y == z:  True
z == x:  True

x is y:  False
y is z:  False
z is x:  True

2. Python 'is not' Operator

The "is not" an identity operator which returns True if both operands do not refer to the same objects; False, otherwise.

Syntax

Below is the syntax of "is not" operator:

x is not y

Python 'is not' Operator Example

# Python program to demonstrate the 
# example of identity operators

x = [10, 20, 30]
y = [10, 20, 30]
z = x

# Comparing the values 
# using != operator
print("x != y: ", x != y)
print("y != z: ", y != z)
print("z != x: ", z != x)
print()

# Comparing the objects 
# whether they are referring 
# the same objects or not
print("x is not y: ", x is not y)
print("y is not z: ", y is not z)
print("z is not x: ", z is not x)
print()

Output

x != y:  False
y != z:  False
z != x:  False

x is not y:  True
y is not z:  True
z is not x:  False