[Python-Dev] Why does read() return bytes instead of bytearray?

[Antoine Pitrou]

Lisandro Dalcin <dalcinl <at> gmail.com> writes:
> 
> However, your original question is still valid ... Why a binary read()
> returns an immutable type?

Because bytes is the standard type for holding binary data. Bytearray should
only be used when there's a real, measured performance advantage doing so
(which, IMHO, is rarer than you think). An immutable type makes daily
programming much less error-prone.

Regards

Antoine.