【PythonBasics】Variable Passing Mechanism

Variable Passing in Python

2021.12.29 To be updated after machine structure is learnt

Source: A very good graphical explanation

We think of varible x = [1, 2] using a box-pointer diagram, where x points to a box containing a pointer to the list object [1, 2].

• The box represents the content of that piece of memory set aside for x. Any piece of memory has an address and contains some content.

• The pointer between x and the box means the address of that box, and the fact that x points to that box means "x is bound to the address of that piece of memory set aside".

• The pointer contained in the box means the address
  of the [1, 2] object.

Passing by value

b = a passing by value creates a deep copy of whatever is inside a's memory, and puts them in a new box. In our case, it copies the list [1, 2], and puts the address of that newly created [1, 2] to a new box bound to b.

When passed by value, neither reassignment nor mutation to b affects a.

Passing by reference

b = a passing by reference simply associates b with a's address.

When passed by reference, both reassignment and mutation to b affect a.

Passing by object reference

b is associated with a new address, but the object address contained in a is copied and put in the new address. So b and a are associated with different addresses, but contain the same pointer.

When passed by object reference, reassignment to b doesn’t affect a, but mutation to b is reflected on a.