ENH: Add strict parameter to assert_array_equal. Fixes #9542

doc/release/upcoming_changes/21595.new_feature.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+``strict`` option for `testing.assert_array_equal`
+----------------------------------------------------
+The ``strict`` option is now available for `testing.assert_array_equal`.
+Setting ``strict=True`` will disable the broadcasting behaviour for scalars and
+ensure that input arrays have the same data type.

numpy/testing/_private/utils.py

@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ def assert_approx_equal(actual,desired,significant=7,err_msg='',verbose=True):
 
 
 def assert_array_compare(comparison, x, y, err_msg='', verbose=True, header='',
-                         precision=6, equal_nan=True, equal_inf=True):
+                         precision=6, equal_nan=True, equal_inf=True,
+                         *, strict=False):
     __tracebackhide__ = True  # Hide traceback for py.test
     from numpy.core import array, array2string, isnan, inf, bool_, errstate, all, max, object_
 
@@ -753,7 +754,10 @@ def func_assert_same_pos(x, y, func=isnan, hasval='nan'):
             return y_id
 
     try:
-        cond = (x.shape == () or y.shape == ()) or x.shape == y.shape
+        if strict:
+            cond = x.shape == y.shape and x.dtype == y.dtype
+        else:
+            cond = (x.shape == () or y.shape == ()) or x.shape == y.shape
         if not cond:
             msg = build_err_msg([x, y],
                                 err_msg
@@ -852,7 +856,7 @@ def func_assert_same_pos(x, y, func=isnan, hasval='nan'):
         raise ValueError(msg)
 
 
-def assert_array_equal(x, y, err_msg='', verbose=True):
+def assert_array_equal(x, y, err_msg='', verbose=True, *, strict=False):
     """
     Raises an AssertionError if two array_like objects are not equal.
 
@@ -876,6 +880,10 @@ def assert_array_equal(x, y, err_msg='', verbose=True):
         The error message to be printed in case of failure.
     verbose : bool, optional
         If True, the conflicting values are appended to the error message.
+    strict : bool, optional
+        If True, raise an assertion when either the shape or the data
+        type of the array_like objects does not match. The special
+        handling for scalars mentioned in the Notes section is disabled.
 
     Raises
     ------
@@ -892,7 +900,7 @@ def assert_array_equal(x, y, err_msg='', verbose=True):
     -----
     When one of `x` and `y` is a scalar and the other is array_like, the
     function checks that each element of the array_like object is equal to
-    the scalar.
+    the scalar. This behaviour can be disabled with the `strict` parameter.
 
     Examples
     --------
@@ -929,10 +937,37 @@ def assert_array_equal(x, y, err_msg='', verbose=True):
     >>> x = np.full((2, 5), fill_value=3)
     >>> np.testing.assert_array_equal(x, 3)
 
+    Use `strict` to raise an assertion when comparing a scalar with an array:
+
+    >>> np.testing.assert_array_equal(x, 3, strict=True)
+    Traceback (most recent call last):
+        ...
+    AssertionError:
+    Arrays are not equal
+    <BLANKLINE>
+    (shapes (2, 5), () mismatch)
+     x: array([[3, 3, 3, 3, 3],
+           [3, 3, 3, 3, 3]])
+     y: array(3)
+
+    The `strict` parameter also ensures that the array data types match:
+
+    >>> x = np.array([2, 2, 2])
+    >>> y = np.array([2., 2., 2.], dtype=np.float32)
+    >>> np.testing.assert_array_equal(x, y, strict=True)
+    Traceback (most recent call last):
+        ...
+    AssertionError:
+    Arrays are not equal
+    <BLANKLINE>
+    (shapes (3,), (3,) mismatch)
+     x: array([2, 2, 2])
+     y: array([2., 2., 2.], dtype=float32)
     """
     __tracebackhide__ = True  # Hide traceback for py.test
     assert_array_compare(operator.__eq__, x, y, err_msg=err_msg,
-                         verbose=verbose, header='Arrays are not equal')
+                         verbose=verbose, header='Arrays are not equal',
+                         strict=strict)
 
 
 def assert_array_almost_equal(x, y, decimal=6, err_msg='', verbose=True):

numpy/testing/_private/utils.pyi

@@ -200,13 +200,17 @@ def assert_array_compare(
     precision: SupportsIndex = ...,
     equal_nan: bool = ...,
     equal_inf: bool = ...,
+    *,
+    strict: bool = ...
 ) -> None: ...
 
 def assert_array_equal(
     x: ArrayLike,
     y: ArrayLike,
     err_msg: str = ...,
     verbose: bool = ...,
+    *,
+    strict: bool = ...
 ) -> None: ...
 
 def assert_array_almost_equal(

numpy/testing/tests/test_utils.py

@@ -214,6 +214,43 @@ def test_suppress_overflow_warnings(self):
                     np.array([1, 2, 3], np.float32),
                     np.array([1, 1e-40, 3], np.float32))
 
+    def test_array_vs_scalar_is_equal(self):
+        """Test comparing an array with a scalar when all values are equal."""
+        a = np.array([1., 1., 1.])
+        b = 1.
+
+        self._test_equal(a, b)
+
+    def test_array_vs_scalar_not_equal(self):
+        """Test comparing an array with a scalar when not all values equal."""
+        a = np.array([1., 2., 3.])
+        b = 1.
+
+        self._test_not_equal(a, b)
+
+    def test_array_vs_scalar_strict(self):
+        """Test comparing an array with a scalar with strict option."""
+        a = np.array([1., 1., 1.])
+        b = 1.
+
+        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+            assert_array_equal(a, b, strict=True)
+
+    def test_array_vs_array_strict(self):
+        """Test comparing two arrays with strict option."""
+        a = np.array([1., 1., 1.])
+        b = np.array([1., 1., 1.])
+
+        assert_array_equal(a, b, strict=True)
+
+    def test_array_vs_float_array_strict(self):
+        """Test comparing two arrays with strict option."""
+        a = np.array([1, 1, 1])
+        b = np.array([1., 1., 1.])
+
+        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+            assert_array_equal(a, b, strict=True)
+
 
 class TestBuildErrorMessage: