Python: Check common elements between two given list are in same order or not

Last update on June 28 2025 12:44:07 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Compare Common Elements in Lists for Order

Write a Python program to check if two lists have the same elements in them in same order or not.

Sample Solution:

Python Code:

# Define a function 'same_order' that checks if common elements in two lists are in the same order
def same_order(l1, l2):
    # Find the common elements between 'l1' and 'l2' using set intersection
    common_elements = set(l1) & set(l2)
    
    # Filter 'l1' to keep only elements present in 'common_elements'
    l1 = [e for e in l1 if e in common_elements]
    
    # Filter 'l2' to keep only elements present in 'common_elements'
    l2 = [e for e in l2 if e in common_elements]
    
    # Check if the filtered 'l1' and 'l2' are equal, meaning the common elements are in the same order
    return l1 == l2

# Create three lists 'color1', 'color2', and 'color3' with string values
color1 = ["red", "green", "black", "orange"]
color2 = ["red", "pink", "green", "white", "black"]
color3 = ["white", "orange", "pink", "black"]

# Print a message indicating the original lists
print("Original lists:")
# Print the contents of 'color1', 'color2', and 'color3'
print(color1)
print(color2)
print(color3)

# Test if common elements between 'color1' and 'color2' are in the same order
print("\nTest common elements between color1 and color2 are in the same order?")
# Call the 'same_order' function with 'color1' and 'color2', then print the result
print(same_order(color1, color2))

# Test if common elements between 'color1' and 'color3' are in the same order
print("\nTest common elements between color1 and color3 are in the same order?")
# Call the 'same_order' function with 'color1' and 'color3', then print the result
print(same_order(color1, color3))

# Test if common elements between 'color2' and 'color3' are in the same order
print("\nTest common elements between color2 and color3 are in the same order?")
# Call the 'same_order' function with 'color2' and 'color3', then print the result
print(same_order(color2, color3)) 

Sample Output:

Original lists:
['red', 'green', 'black', 'orange']
['red', 'pink', 'green', 'white', 'black']
['white', 'orange', 'pink', 'black']

Test common elements between color1 and color2 are in same order?
True

Test common elements between color1 and color3 are in same order?
False

Test common elements between color2 and color3 are in same order?
False

Flowchart:

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

• Write a Python program to find the longest common ordered subsequence.
• Write a Python program to check if two lists are identical except for order.
• Write a Python program to sort lists based on common elements.
• Write a Python program to extract common elements while maintaining order.

Go to:

• Python Data Type List Exercises Home ↩
• Python Exercises Home ↩

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