[Python-Dev] Borrowed and Stolen References in API

[Antoine Pitrou]

On Fri, 06 May 2011 13:28:11 +1200
Greg Ewing <greg.ewing at canterbury.ac.nz> wrote:

> Amaury Forgeot d'Arc wrote [concerning the Doc/data/refcounts.dat file]:
> 
> > This is not always true, for example when the item is already present
> > in the dict.
> > It's not important to know what the function does to the object,
> > Only the action on the reference is relevant.
> 
> Yes, that's the whole point. When using a functon,
> what you need to know is whether it borrows or steals
> a reference.

Doesn't "borrow" mean the same as "steal" in that context?
If an API borrows a reference, I expect it to take it from me.

Regards

Antoine.