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Re: Pass variable by reference

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Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>:

>>     characters, words, lines = stats.read()
>
> That's not really pass-by-reference, though. What you're doing is
> output parameters, which are usually implemented in C with pointers,
> but in Python with a return tuple.

Correct, but it is worth questioning the question itself: what do you
need pass-by-reference for? A very common case is returning multiple
values. For that, Python has other idioms available.

> And, by the way, it's not purely academic. There have been times when
> I've done exactly that as a means of passing state around. It's not
> common, but it has its place.

Nobody has been disputing Steven's technique. There are many variations
to that as well. For example, instead of a list, there might be an
appropriate class/object that could host the interesting piece of
information and act as the desired reference.


Marko

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Thread

Pass variable by reference Satish Muthali <satish.muthali@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 17:39 -0700
  Re: Pass variable by reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 21:32 -0700
  Re: Pass variable by reference Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2014-05-06 08:18 +0000
    Re: Pass variable by reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-05-06 12:11 +0300
      Re: Pass variable by reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-05-06 19:53 +1000
        Re: Pass variable by reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-05-06 13:38 +0300
          Re: Pass variable by reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-05-06 20:45 +1000

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