numpy.dtype.byteorder

attribute

dtype.byteorder

A character indicating the byte-order of this data-type object.

One of:

‘=’	native
‘<’	little-endian
‘>’	big-endian
‘|’	not applicable

All built-in data-type objects have byteorder either ‘=’ or ‘|’.

Examples

>>> import numpy as np
>>> dt = np.dtype('i2')
>>> dt.byteorder
'='
>>> # endian is not relevant for 8 bit numbers
>>> np.dtype('i1').byteorder
'|'
>>> # or ASCII strings
>>> np.dtype('S2').byteorder
'|'
>>> # Even if specific code is given, and it is native
>>> # '=' is the byteorder
>>> import sys
>>> sys_is_le = sys.byteorder == 'little'
>>> native_code = '<' if sys_is_le else '>'
>>> swapped_code = '>' if sys_is_le else '<'
>>> dt = np.dtype(native_code + 'i2')
>>> dt.byteorder
'='
>>> # Swapped code shows up as itself
>>> dt = np.dtype(swapped_code + 'i2')
>>> dt.byteorder == swapped_code
True