newbie question

[Alex Martelli]

rihad wrote:

> Hi, I'm new to Python and am making my way through the bundled
> tutorial. As I now understand, variables in Python are really
> references (everything is passed by object reference). If I have this

Yes.  Variables are just names, tags, references, labels that
are transiently attached to objects.

> code:
> 
> def f(n, x = []):
>    # some code
> 
> Even if I don't modify x inside f(), is it guaranteed that x will
> always be [], that is, the empty list [] will never be shared with
> some unrelated reference, which could modify it, and thus affect what
> x binds to?

No.  The empty list [] is just the DEFAULT value of argument x to function 
f.  If and when f is called with two arguments, local name x in f is bound 
to the second actual argument.  The object (a list, originally empty) that 
is x's default value stays around even between calls to f, and during a 
call to f with two arguments -- but, said object is only accessible (via 
local name x in f) during calls to f with a single argument.

That object will never be "shared" with any other name unless you arrange 
for that explicitly -- e.g. by having f "return x" and binding the return 
value to some other name.


Alex