Type Consistency
When working with integers, it’s better to use integer values for comparisons. Mixing integers and floating-point numbers can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior due to floating-point precision limitations. Using sys.maxsize and -sys.maxsize ensures that we are working with integers throughout the code, maintaining type consistency.
Readability
When reading the code, it’s easier to understand the intent behind using sys.maxsize and -sys.maxsize for initializing the minimum and maximum values, as they represent the largest positive and negative integers supported by the system. In contrast, float("inf") and float("-inf") represent infinite values in the floating-point number system, which might be confusing for some readers, especially when working with integers.
Performance
Although the performance difference is negligible in this case, using integer values for comparisons is generally faster than using floating-point numbers. This is because integer arithmetic is simpler and can be executed more quickly by the CPU.
Summary
Overall, using sys.maxsize and -sys.maxsize improves type consistency, readability, and performance when working with integer values in specific contexts.