Re: Explanation of list reference

From	Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au>
Subject	Re: Explanation of list reference
Date	2014-02-15 23:21 +1100
References	<13208de8-0f85-4e60-b059-dc087c8fda41@googlegroups.com> <qoteh35ft4q.fsf@ruuvi.it.helsinki.fi> <917ede6d-db7c-4a8c-8203-27677283776b@googlegroups.com> <qot4n41tosb.fsf@ruuvi.it.helsinki.fi>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.python
Message-ID	<mailman.6987.1392466895.18130.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> writes:

> In cheese = spam, cheese is the variable while spam is a variable
> reference and stands for 42.

Oof. This distinction between “variable” and “variable reference” is
bogus and unnecessary, and highlights what is wrong with talking about
“variable” at all.

In the Python code ‘cheese = spam’, “cheese” is a name, and “spam” is a
name. Both of them are references (because all names are references).

The assignment binds the name “cheese” to whatever object the name
“spam” was bound to at that point in time.

In either case, a different kind of reference (for example, a list item)
could have been used. Names are merely one kind of reference.

> > >>> spam = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
> > >>> cheese = spam
> > >>> cheese[1] = 'Hello!'
> > >>> spam
> > [0, 'Hello!', 2, 3, 4, 5]
> > >>> cheese
> > [0, 'Hello!', 2, 3, 4, 5]
>
> The first two statements in case 2 are assignments to variables, just
> like in case 1, but the third statement is different: it doesn't
> change the value of the variable (the value is still the same object)
> but it does change the value (replaces one element of the list with
> another).

Again, this distinction is nonsense and confusing.

What is happening in all those assignments is: A reference (the
expression on the left-hand-side of the ‘=’ symbol) is bound to an
object (the value resulting from the expression on the right-hand-side
of the ‘=’ symbol).

In the first two cases, the reference happens to be a name. In the third
case, the reference happens to be a list item.

> Would it help to say that in case 1 the relevant statement acts on the
> variable while in case 2 it acts on the value of the variable? This is
> accurate, I just don't know if it happens to be the thing that helps.

I think not. What would help is to abandon the “variable” baggage, and
focus on what assignment actually does: binds a reference to an object.

> One last thing: a variable is not an object.

Right. Also: a reference is not an object, but a reference always refers
to exactly one object.

-- 
 \         “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. The first |
  `\     principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the |
_o__)               easiest person to fool.” —Richard P. Feynman, 1964 |
Ben Finney

Thread

Explanation of list reference dave em <daveandem2000@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 10:08 -0800
  Re: Explanation of list reference Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-02-14 20:26 +0200
    Re: Explanation of list reference dave em <daveandem2000@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 10:54 -0800
      Re: Explanation of list reference Denis McMahon <denismfmcmahon@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 19:20 +0000
      Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 21:56 +0200
        Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 13:17 -0700
          Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 22:58 +0200
            Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 08:16 +1100
              Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 23:43 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-14 19:00 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference dave em <daveandem2000@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 16:26 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:07 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 11:00 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 11:57 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 17:55 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 13:08 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 18:34 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 13:42 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 19:14 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 14:33 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 20:24 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 15:37 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:54 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 18:19 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:20 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 07:03 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 16:31 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:07 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-15 17:19 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:31 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 17:23 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 01:08 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-02-15 12:42 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 15:44 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 06:00 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-16 11:29 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 08:50 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 20:01 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-02-16 18:36 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 05:52 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2014-02-15 15:40 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 02:27 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-02-15 19:02 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:44 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 18:05 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 00:29 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:15 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:24 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 00:32 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:37 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 11:10 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 10:31 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Christian Gollwitzer <auriocus@gmx.de> - 2014-02-15 10:44 +0100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 12:10 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 10:53 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-17 11:40 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 05:57 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:21 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Alister <alister.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2014-02-16 19:16 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-15 15:20 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 11:31 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 12:13 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 11:17 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 14:07 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 14:41 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 18:29 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-15 12:02 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 09:30 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 11:37 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 11:45 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 19:05 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 10:11 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 22:20 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 14:20 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 09:47 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 19:17 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 23:01 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 02:25 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 13:18 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:31 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 10:40 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:17 +1100
            Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 23:20 +0200
            Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 10:08 +0200
              Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 01:28 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 12:52 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 22:24 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 12:04 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 18:17 +0200
              Re: Explanation of list reference Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-02-16 10:35 +0200
              Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 01:35 -0700
              Re: Explanation of list reference Alan Bawden <alan@scooby-doo.csail.mit.edu> - 2014-02-16 03:38 -0500
              Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 08:40 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 21:18 +1100
              Re: Explanation of list reference Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2014-02-16 12:10 -0500
        Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-14 15:45 -0500
      Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 13:12 -0700
      Re: Explanation of list reference Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-02-14 22:36 +0200
        Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 01:03 +1300
        Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-15 23:21 +1100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-14 13:42 -0500
  Re: Explanation of list reference Ryan Gonzalez <rymg19@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 12:31 -0600
    Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 05:36 +0000
      Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 17:07 +1100
        Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:48 +0000
          Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 17:57 +1100
            Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 01:18 +1300
              Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 23:24 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 15:25 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-16 00:59 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-17 11:54 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 10:02 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-16 18:46 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 12:26 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-17 10:05 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-16 18:43 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-17 11:04 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 06:31 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 05:43 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-16 20:43 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 12:59 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-16 22:28 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-17 14:52 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 20:35 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 08:03 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 06:21 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 18:11 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rotwang <sg552@hotmail.co.uk> - 2014-02-17 18:24 +0000
          Re: Explanation of list reference Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2014-02-15 14:30 -0500
  Re: Explanation of list reference Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2014-02-14 16:37 -0500
  Re: Explanation of list reference pecore@pascolo.net - 2014-02-14 23:34 +0100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Christian Gollwitzer <auriocus@gmx.de> - 2014-02-15 10:38 +0100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-16 01:20 +1100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 01:26 +1100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Joshua Landau <joshua@landau.ws> - 2014-02-15 20:44 +0000
  Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 09:27 +1100

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