How do I use the pickle module in Python?

How do I use the pickle module in Python?

The pickle module in Python is used for serializing and deserializing Python objects. You can use pickle.dump() to save an object to a file and pickle.load() to read it back.

Can you show me a simple example of pickling a list?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import pickle

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# Pickle the list
with open('my_list.pkl', 'wb') as f:
    pickle.dump(my_list, f)

# Unpickle the list
with open('my_list.pkl', 'rb') as f:
    loaded_list = pickle.load(f)
print(loaded_list)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

What are some common use cases for the pickle module?

Common use cases include saving machine learning models, caching data, and storing user sessions.

Are there any security concerns with using pickle?

Yes, loading pickled data from untrusted sources can execute arbitrary code. It's safer to use formats like JSON for untrusted data.