Everything in Python is an object, why operators are not?

Question

Everything in Python is an object

We all know this sentence and all Pythonistas (including me) loving it. In that regard, it is interesting to look at operators. They seem to be no objects, e.g.

>>> type(*)     # or /, +, -, < ...

returns SyntaxError: invalid syntax.

However, there might be situations where it would be useful to have them treated as objects. Consider for example a function like

def operation(operand1, operand2, operator):
    """
    This function returns the operation of two operands defined by the operator as parameter
    """

    # The following line is invalid python code and should only describe the function
    return operand1 <operator> operand2

So operation(1, 2, +) would return 3, operation(1, 2, *) would return 2, operation(1, 2, <) would return True, etc...

Why is this not implemented in python? Or is it and if, how?

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Remark: I do know the operator module, which also wouldn't be applicable in the example function above. Also I am aware that one could workaround it in a way like e.g. operations(operand1, operand2, '>') and find the desired operation via the string representation of the corresponding operator. However I am asking for the reason of the non-existance of operator-objects being able to be passed as parameters in functions e.g. like every other python object.

Answer 1

Every value is an object. Operators are not values; they are syntax. However, they are implemented by functions, which are values. The operator module provides access to those functions.

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Not at all applicable to Python, though suggestive, is that a language could provide additional syntax to convert an operator into a "name". For example, in Haskell, you can use an infix operator like + as if it were a name using parentheses. Where you wanted to write operation(3, 5, +) in Python, Haskell allows operation 3 5 (+).

There's no technical reason why something similar couldn't be added to Python, but there's also no compelling design reason to add it. The operator module is sufficient and "fits" better with the language design as a whole.