When should I use pass by reference in programming?

What does it mean to pass by reference in programming?

Passing by reference means that a function receives a reference to the original variable, allowing it to modify the variable directly.

When should I use pass by reference instead of pass by value?

You should use pass by reference when you want to modify the original variable or when passing large data structures to avoid copying.

Can you give me an example of pass by reference in Python?

In Python, all arguments are passed by reference. For example, if you pass a list to a function and modify it, the changes will reflect outside the function.

Are there any downsides to using pass by reference?

Yes, it can lead to unintended side effects if the original variable is modified unexpectedly, making debugging harder.