Code, Notes

Copying Lists in Python

make sure you don’t fall into the trap of copying pointers in Python:


import numpy as np
a = np.zeros(2)
print("a = ", a)
b = np.zeros(2)
print("b = ", b)
b = a # this assignment is simply a pointer copy - b points to the same data pointed to by a
a[0]=33.33 # this will actually change b as well
print("b = a results in a shallow copy:")
print("a = ", a)
print("b = ", b)
# to avoid this, do a deep copy:
print("To create a data copy, use b = a.copy() or b = list(a):")
a = np.zeros(2)
print("a = ", a)
b = np.zeros(2)
print("b = ", b)
print("b = a.copy or b = list(a) results in a data copy:")
b = a.copy() # this assignment will make a copy of the data
a[0]=33.33 # this will actually change b as well
print("a = ", a)
print("b = ",b)

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