Shallow vs. Deep Copy: The Hidden Pitfalls Most Python Developers Overlook(Python Core in Action 14)
Learn the differences between shallow and deep copy in Python, how to compare objects using `==` and `is`, and avoid common pitfalls in your code.
Welcome to the "Python Core in Action" Series
In our previous lessons, we've already encountered many examples of comparing and copying Python objects. For instance, consider this `if` statement that checks if `a` and `b` are equal:
if a == b:
...Or take this example, where `l2` is a copy of `l1`:
l1 = [1, 2, 3]
l2 = list(l1)However, you might not fully understand what's happening behind the scenes. For example:
Is `l2` a shallow copy or a deep copy of `l1`?
Does `a == b` compare the values of two objects, or does it check if they are entirely the same?
This lesson aims to give you a comprehensive understanding of these concepts.