How do I deep copy a list in Python?

How do I deep copy a list in Python?

You can use the copy module's deepcopy function to deep copy a list. Here's an example:

import copy
original_list = [1, 2, [3, 4]]
deep_copied_list = copy.deepcopy(original_list)

This ensures that nested objects are also copied.

What’s the difference between shallow copy and deep copy?

A shallow copy creates a new object but inserts references into it to the objects found in the original. A deep copy creates a new object and recursively adds copies of nested objects found in the original.

Can you show me an example of shallow copying?

Sure! You can use the copy method of a list for shallow copying:

original_list = [1, 2, [3, 4]]
shallow_copied_list = original_list.copy()

Modifying shallow_copied_list[2][0] will also change original_list[2][0].

When should I use deep copy instead of shallow copy?

Use deep copy when you need to copy complex objects with nested structures, and you want to ensure that changes to the copy do not affect the original.