[Python-Dev] Tuples vs. lists

[Guido van Rossum]

> It's a constant.  The BCD module is Binary Coded Decimal; instances are
> intended to be as immutable as strings and numbers (well, it *is* a
> number type).  Modifying an instance is guaranteed to produce a new
> instance.  To a large extent, I guess I feel that if a class is intended
> to be immutable, each of its underlying data attributes should also be
> immutable.

Or you could assign it to a private variable.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)