Source code for pennylane.workflow.get_best_diff_method

# Copyright 2018-2024 Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc.

# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
# You may obtain a copy of the License at

#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
# limitations under the License.
"""Contains a function for getting the best differentiation method for a given QNode."""

from __future__ import annotations

from functools import wraps
from typing import TYPE_CHECKING

import pennylane as qml
from pennylane.workflow.qnode import _make_execution_config
from pennylane.workflow.resolution import _resolve_execution_config

if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from pennylane.workflow.qnode import QNode



[docs]
def get_best_diff_method(qnode: QNode):
    """Returns a function that computes the 'best' differentiation method
    for a particular QNode.

    This method prioritizes differentiation methods in the following order (SPSA-based and Hadamard-based gradients
    are not included here):

    * ``"device"``
    * ``"backprop"``
    * ``"parameter-shift"``

    .. note::

        The first differentiation method that is supported (from top to bottom)
        will be returned. The order is designed to maximize efficiency, generality,
        and stability.

    .. seealso::

        For a detailed comparison of the backpropagation and parameter-shift methods,
        refer to the `quantum gradients with backpropagation example <demo:demos/tutorial_backprop>`__.

    Args:
        qnode (.QNode): the qnode to get the 'best' differentiation method for.

    Returns:
        str: the gradient method name.
    """

    def handle_return(transform):
        """Helper function to manage the return"""
        if transform in (qml.gradients.param_shift, qml.gradients.param_shift_cv):
            return "parameter-shift"
        return transform

    @wraps(qnode)
    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
        device = qnode.device

        # Construct the tape using the same method as the execution workflow
        batch, _ = qml.workflow.construct_batch(qnode, level="user")(*args, **kwargs)

        # Create execution config with "best" method - this matches the workflow behavior
        mcm_config = qml.devices.MCMConfig(
            postselect_mode=qnode.execute_kwargs.get("postselect_mode"),
            mcm_method=qnode.execute_kwargs.get("mcm_method"),
        )
        config = _make_execution_config(qnode, "best", mcm_config)

        # Use the same resolution logic as execute() and construct_batch()
        resolved_config = _resolve_execution_config(config, device, batch)

        return handle_return(resolved_config.gradient_method)

    return wrapper
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Source code for pennylane.workflow.get_best_diff_method

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