What are mutable default arguments in Python?

What are mutable default arguments in Python?

Mutable default arguments are default values for function parameters that can be changed. For example, using a list as a default value.

Can you give me an example of how that works?

Sure! If you define a function like this: def append_to_list(value, my_list=[]):, every time you call it without providing my_list, it uses the same list.

What problems can arise from using mutable defaults?

The main issue is that if the list is modified, it retains changes across function calls, which can lead to unexpected behavior.

How can I avoid these issues?

A common solution is to use None as the default value and then initialize the mutable object inside the function.