Understanding the Difference Between Deep Copy and Shallow Copy in Python

When it comes to copying objects in Python, it's essential to distinguish between deep copy and shallow copy. The main difference lies in how nested objects are handled.

Shallow Copy

In a shallow copy, only the outermost object is duplicated, while the inner objects are referenced. This means that changes made to the inner objects in the copy will affect the original object as well. Shallow copy can be created using the copy() method or the copy.copy() function.

Deep Copy

On the other hand, a deep copy creates a completely new object with its own copy of nested objects. Any changes made to the copied object will not affect the original object. Deep copy can be created using the copy.deepcopy() function.

It's important to choose between deep copy and shallow copy based on your specific needs in order to avoid unintended side effects in your code.

For more in-depth information on deep copy and shallow copy in Python, visit the official Python documentation.