> > This is what was also confusing as well. I assumed that python stored > objects rather than simply assigning them. >
On Tue, May 5, 2015 at 4:48 AM, Alan Gauld <alan.ga...@btinternet.com> wrote: > On 05/05/15 05:29, Brandon D wrote: > >> Hello tutors, >> >> I'm having trouble understanding, as well as visualizing, how object >> references work in the following situation. For demonstration purposes I >> will keep it at the most rudimentary level: >> >> x = 10 >> x = x ** x >> > > Its good to use a simple example but in this case your > example bears no relation to your comments below! > > >> If my knowledge serves me correctly, Python destroys the value once >> reassigned. >> > > Eventually. > Or more accurately Python marks the object for deletion > once all references to the object have been lost. Remember > variables in Python are not storage locations, they are > names attached to objects. When there are no more names > attached to an object it can be deleted. But that does > not necessarily happen immediately, Python gets around > to it when it has the time. > > So, how does x = x + 1 work if it's destroyed before it can >> be referenced? >> > > Its not. This says assign x to the object on the right. > So it has to work out what "the object on the right" is > before it can stick the label x onto the result. > > The only solution I came up with is that the two operands >> are evaluated before storing it in the variable, consequently >> > > replacing the original value of 0. > > Remember, its the name that moves, not the objects. Python > doesn't store the objects in the variables, it assigns > the variable names to the objects. There is a big difference. > > HTH > -- > Alan G > Author of the Learn to Program web site > http://www.alan-g.me.uk/ > http://www.amazon.com/author/alan_gauld > Follow my photo-blog on Flickr at: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/alangauldphotos > > > _______________________________________________ > Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org > To unsubscribe or change subscription options: > https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor > _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
