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Is there a way to convert a list of string to numbers faster than ToExpression?

str = ToString /@ RandomReal[100, 1000];
ToExpression@str; // AbsoluteTiming // First
(* 0.007714 *)

Related: How to convert string to integer list?

Edit Thanks to J.M. who pointed to this answer: 

  Internal`StringToDouble/@str; // AbsoluteTiming // First
 (* 0.000834 *)
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    $\begingroup$ Have you seen this? $\endgroup$
    – J. M.'s lack of A.I. ♦
    Mar 7, 2018 at 21:50
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    $\begingroup$ @J.M. Wow, no I had not! Probably hard to beat... $\endgroup$
    – anderstood
    Mar 7, 2018 at 21:55

1 Answer 1

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I'd just like to point out the J.M.'s answer is also best if you have ints, since Floor is fast and listable as a cast from Real:

intStrings = RandomInteger[10000, 100000] // Map[ToString];

Floor[Internal`StringToDouble /@ intStrings] // RepeatedTiming // First

0.048

ToExpression@intStrings // RepeatedTiming // First

0.413
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  • $\begingroup$ Maybe you can incorporate J.M.'s answer too (as community if you're not comfortable) so that I can accept it. $\endgroup$
    – anderstood
    Jun 11, 2018 at 0:39

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