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DF Program 6

In Python, equivalent objects have the same value while identical objects are the same in memory. Examples illustrate how lists can be equivalent but not identical, and how aliasing affects object references. The document also discusses in-place modifications of lists through function arguments, highlighting Python's pass-by-object-reference behavior.

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10 views5 pages

DF Program 6

In Python, equivalent objects have the same value while identical objects are the same in memory. Examples illustrate how lists can be equivalent but not identical, and how aliasing affects object references. The document also discusses in-place modifications of lists through function arguments, highlighting Python's pass-by-object-reference behavior.

Uploaded by

shumbapraise71
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Equivalent vs.

Identical in Python

In Python, equivalent objects have the same value/content, while identical objects are the same object in memory.

Example 1: Lists and Comparisons

python

list_a = [1, 2, 3]

list_b = [1, 2, 3]

list_c = list_a print(list_a == list_b) # Equivalent? True (same values) print(list_a is list_b) # Identical? False

(different objects) print(list_a is list_c) # Identical? True (same object)


Output explanation:

Ÿ list_a == list_b is True because their values match.

Ÿ list_a is list_b is False because they are separate objects.

Ÿ list_a is list_c is True because list_c references the same object as list_a.

Objects, References, and Aliasing

Ÿ Objects: Data structures in memory (e.g., ``).

References: Variables pointing to objects (e.g., list_a).

Ÿ Aliasing: Multiple references to the same object.

Example 2: Aliasing and Mutability

python

original = ["apple", "banana"] alias = original # Aliasing: both

reference the same object copy = original.copy() # New object with same values alias.append("cherry")

print(original) # Output: ["apple", "banana", "cherry"] print(copy) # Output: ["apple", "banana"]


Explanation:

Ÿ Modifying alias affects original because they reference the same object.

copy remains unchanged because it’s a separate object.

Function Modifying a List Argument

Example 3: In-Place List Reversal with Custom Logic


python

def mirror_modify(lst): """Reverses the list and appends its mirrored version.""" # Modify the original list in-place

lst.reverse() mirrored = lst.copy() mirrored.reverse() lst.extend(mirrored) numbers = [10, 20, 30]

mirror_modify(numbers) print(numbers) # Output: [30, 20, 10, 10, 20, 30]

Technical Breakdown:

Ÿ Arguments/Parameters:

numbers is passed to mirror_modify as an argument.

Ÿ lst becomes a parameter referencing the same object as numbers.

Ÿ In-Place Modification:

Ÿ lst.reverse() alters the original list object.

Ÿ lst.extend() appends

mirrored data to the same object.

Question: How do you think Python'spass-by-object-reference behavior affects the design of functions that modify

mutable data

structures like lists?


References.

Downey, A. (2015). Think Python: How to think like a computer scientist. Green Tea Press. This book is licensed

under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported

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