SUBLIST = 0 SUPERLIST = 1 EQUAL = 2 UNEQUAL = 3 def sublist(list_one, list_two): if list_one == list_two: return EQUAL if contains(list_one, list_two): return SUPERLIST if contains(list_two, list_one): return SUBLIST return UNEQUAL def contains(list_one, list_two): if not list_two: return True if len(list_two) > len(list_one): return False for i in range(len(list_one) - len(list_two) + 1): if list_one[i] != list_two[0]: continue for j in range(len(list_two)): if list_one[i + j] != list_two[j]: break else: return True return False