Simple unit converter in Python

Question

I am new to programming and I am trying to make a simple unit converter in python. I want to convert units within the metric system and metric to imperial and vice-versa. I have started with this code and I found this method is slow and in-efficient, How can I code this more efficiently?

import math
import time
"""Unit Converter"""
#variable setting
cat = raw_input ("Which category would you like to convert? we support length(l) and Weight(w):  ")
if cat == ("l"):
unit1 = raw_input ("Which unit would you like to convert from: ")
unit2 = raw_input ("Which unit would you like to convert to: ")
num1 = raw_input ("Enter your value: " )
    
    ##Calculations  
    
if unit1 == "cm" and unit2 == "m":
    ans = float(num1)/100       
elif unit1 == "mm" and unit2 == "cm":
    ans = float(num1)/10
elif unit1 == "m" and unit2 == "cm":
    ans = float(num1)*100
elif unit1 == "cm" and unit2 == "mm":
    ans = float(num1)*10
elif unit1 == "mm" and unit2 == "m":
    ans = float(num1)/1000
elif unit1 == "m" and unit2 == "mm":
    ans = float(num1)*1000  
elif unit1 == "km" and unit2 == "m":
    ans = float(num1)*1000
elif unit1 == "m" and unit2 == "km":
    ans = float(num1)/1000
elif unit1 == "mm" and unit2 == "km":
    ans = float(num1)/1000000

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

You could use a dictionary with conversion factors, and a function that calls them.

def convert_SI(val, unit_in, unit_out):
    SI = {'mm':0.001, 'cm':0.01, 'm':1.0, 'km':1000.}
    return val*SI[unit_in]/SI[unit_out]

Example:

>>> convert_SI(1, 'm', 'km')
0.001
>>> convert_SI(1, 'km', 'm')
1000.0
>>> convert_SI(1, 'cm', 'm')
0.01

Answer 2

You can use dictionary with this example.

def handle_one():
  print 'one'

def handle_two():
  print 'two'

def handle_three():
  print 'three'

print 'Enter 1 for handle_one'
print 'Enter 2 for handle_two'
print 'Enter 3 for handle_three'
choice=raw_input()
{
'1':  handle_one,
'2':  handle_two,
'3':  handle_three,
}.get(choice)()

Answer 3

For those happy to use an external package, Axiompy is an option.

Installation: pip install axiompy

from axiompy import Units
units = Units()
print(units.unit_convert(3 * units.metre, units.foot))
>>> <Value (9.84251968503937 <Unit (foot)>)>