The Python docs clearly state that x==y calls x.__eq__(y). However it seems that under many circumstances, the opposite is true. Where is it documented when or why this happens, and how can I work out for sure whether my object's __cmp__ or __eq__ methods are going to get called.

Edit: Just to clarify, I know that __eq__ is called in preferecne to __cmp__, but I'm not clear why y.__eq__(x) is called in preference to x.__eq__(y), when the latter is what the docs state will happen.

>>> class TestCmp(object):
...     def __cmp__(self, other):
...         print "__cmp__ got called"
...         return 0
... 
>>> class TestEq(object):
...     def __eq__(self, other):
...         print "__eq__ got called"
...         return True
... 
>>> tc = TestCmp()
>>> te = TestEq()
>>> 
>>> 1 == tc
__cmp__ got called
True
>>> tc == 1
__cmp__ got called
True
>>> 
>>> 1 == te
__eq__ got called
True
>>> te == 1
__eq__ got called
True
>>> 
>>> class TestStrCmp(str):
...     def __new__(cls, value):
...         return str.__new__(cls, value)
...     
...     def __cmp__(self, other):
...         print "__cmp__ got called"
...         return 0
... 
>>> class TestStrEq(str):
...     def __new__(cls, value):
...         return str.__new__(cls, value)
...     
...     def __eq__(self, other):
...         print "__eq__ got called"
...         return True
... 
>>> tsc = TestStrCmp("a")
>>> tse = TestStrEq("a")
>>> 
>>> "b" == tsc
False
>>> tsc == "b"
False
>>> 
>>> "b" == tse
__eq__ got called
True
>>> tse == "b"
__eq__ got called
True

Edit: From Mark Dickinson's answer and comment it would appear that:

  1. Rich comparison overrides __cmp__
    python comparison operator-overloading
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