What are the use cases for deepcopy in Python?

Can you explain what deepcopy is in Python?

Sure! In Python, deepcopy is a function from the copy module that creates a new object that is a deep copy of the original object. This means it recursively copies all objects found in the original, ensuring that changes to the new object do not affect the original.

What are some practical use cases for using deepcopy?

Deepcopy is useful in scenarios where you need to duplicate complex objects, like nested lists or dictionaries, without linking them. For example, when you want to modify a copy of a configuration object without altering the original settings.

Can you give me an example of using deepcopy?

Certainly! Here's a simple example:

import copy
original = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]
copy_of_original = copy.deepcopy(original)
copy_of_original[0][0] = 'changed'

print(original)  # Output: [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]
print(copy_of_original)  # Output: [['changed', 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]

In this case, modifying copy_of_original does not affect original.

Are there any performance considerations when using deepcopy?

Yes, deepcopy can be slower than a shallow copy, especially for large or complex objects, because it recursively copies every element. It's important to consider whether you really need a deep copy or if a shallow copy would suffice.