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DaWei · Dec 7th, 2006, 7:30 PM

Arevos' point is that it isn't a copy, it's a reference to an immutable value, thus, if you reassign it in the function, you're reassigning the reference to another object, not reassigning the value of the original object. Consider this:

(Toggle Plain Text)

>>> def boogie (a):
...    print a
...    a = 5
...    print a
...    return a
...
>>> a = 10
>>> print boogie (a)
10
5
5
>>> a
10
>>>

Dec 7th, 2006, 7:30 PM	#8
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	Arevos' point is that it isn't a copy, it's a reference to an immutable value, thus, if you reassign it in the function, you're reassigning the reference to another object, not reassigning the value of the original object. Consider this: (Toggle Plain Text) >>> def boogie (a): ... print a ... a = 5 ... print a ... return a ... >>> a = 10 >>> print boogie (a) 10 5 5 >>> a 10 >>> >>> def boogie (a): ... print a ... a = 5 ... print a ... return a ... >>> a = 10 >>> print boogie (a) 10 5 5 >>> a 10 >>> __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers