Complex Number Objects

Python’s complex number objects are implemented as two distinct types when viewed from the C API: one is the Python object exposed to Python programs, and the other is a C structure which represents the actual complex number value. The API provides functions for working with both.

Complex Numbers as C Structures

Note that the functions which accept these structures as parameters and return them as results do so by value rather than dereferencing them through pointers. This is consistent throughout the API.

type Py_complex

The C structure which corresponds to the value portion of a Python complex number object. Most of the functions for dealing with complex number objects use structures of this type as input or output values, as appropriate.

double real
double imag

The structure is defined as:

typedef struct {
    double real;
    double imag;
} Py_complex;
Py_complex _Py_c_sum(Py_complex left, Py_complex right)

Return the sum of two complex numbers, using the C Py_complex representation.

Py_complex _Py_cr_sum(Py_complex left, double right)

Return the sum of a complex number and a real number, using the C Py_complex representation.

Added in version 3.14.

Py_complex _Py_c_diff(Py_complex left, Py_complex right)

Return the difference between two complex numbers, using the C Py_complex representation.

Py_complex _Py_cr_diff(Py_complex left, double right)

Return the difference between a complex number and a real number, using the C Py_complex representation.

Added in version 3.14.

Py_complex _Py_rc_diff(double left, Py_complex right)

Return the difference between a real number and a complex number, using the C Py_complex representation.

Added in version 3.14.

Py_complex _Py_c_neg(Py_complex num)

Return the negation of the complex number num, using the C Py_complex representation.

Py_complex _Py_c_prod(Py_complex left, Py_complex right)

Return the product of two complex numbers, using the C Py_complex representation.

Py_complex _Py_cr_prod(Py_complex left, double right)

Return the product of a complex number and a real number, using the C Py_complex representation.

Added in version 3.14.

Py_complex _Py_c_quot(Py_complex dividend, Py_complex divisor)

Return the quotient of two complex numbers, using the C Py_complex representation.

If divisor is null, this method returns zero and sets errno to EDOM.

Py_complex _Py_cr_quot(Py_complex dividend, double divisor)

Return the quotient of a complex number and a real number, using the C Py_complex representation.

If divisor is zero, this method returns zero and sets errno to EDOM.

Added in version 3.14.

Py_complex _Py_rc_quot(double dividend, Py_complex divisor)

Return the quotient of a real number and a complex number, using the C Py_complex representation.

If divisor is zero, this method returns zero and sets errno to EDOM.

Added in version 3.14.

Py_complex _Py_c_pow(Py_complex num, Py_complex exp)

Return the exponentiation of num by exp, using the C Py_complex representation.

If num is null and exp is not a positive real number, this method returns zero and sets errno to EDOM.

Set errno to ERANGE on overflows.

Complex Numbers as Python Objects

type PyComplexObject

This subtype of PyObject represents a Python complex number object.

PyTypeObject PyComplex_Type
Part of the Stable ABI.

This instance of PyTypeObject represents the Python complex number type. It is the same object as complex in the Python layer.

int PyComplex_Check(PyObject *p)

Return true if its argument is a PyComplexObject or a subtype of PyComplexObject. This function always succeeds.

int PyComplex_CheckExact(PyObject *p)

Return true if its argument is a PyComplexObject, but not a subtype of PyComplexObject. This function always succeeds.

PyObject *PyComplex_FromCComplex(Py_complex v)
Return value: New reference.

Create a new Python complex number object from a C Py_complex value. Return NULL with an exception set on error.

PyObject *PyComplex_FromDoubles(double real, double imag)
Return value: New reference. Part of the Stable ABI.

Return a new PyComplexObject object from real and imag. Return NULL with an exception set on error.

double PyComplex_RealAsDouble(PyObject *op)
Part of the Stable ABI.

Return the real part of op as a C double.

If op is not a Python complex number object but has a __complex__() method, this method will first be called to convert op to a Python complex number object. If __complex__() is not defined then it falls back to call PyFloat_AsDouble() and returns its result.

Upon failure, this method returns -1.0 with an exception set, so one should call PyErr_Occurred() to check for errors.

Changed in version 3.13: Use __complex__() if available.

double PyComplex_ImagAsDouble(PyObject *op)
Part of the Stable ABI.

Return the imaginary part of op as a C double.

If op is not a Python complex number object but has a __complex__() method, this method will first be called to convert op to a Python complex number object. If __complex__() is not defined then it falls back to call PyFloat_AsDouble() and returns 0.0 on success.

Upon failure, this method returns -1.0 with an exception set, so one should call PyErr_Occurred() to check for errors.

Changed in version 3.13: Use __complex__() if available.

Py_complex PyComplex_AsCComplex(PyObject *op)

Return the Py_complex value of the complex number op.

If op is not a Python complex number object but has a __complex__() method, this method will first be called to convert op to a Python complex number object. If __complex__() is not defined then it falls back to __float__(). If __float__() is not defined then it falls back to __index__().

Upon failure, this method returns Py_complex with real set to -1.0 and with an exception set, so one should call PyErr_Occurred() to check for errors.

Changed in version 3.8: Use __index__() if available.