mirror of https://github.com/python/cpython.git
80 lines
2.1 KiB
TeX
80 lines
2.1 KiB
TeX
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\section{Built-in module \sectcode{copy}}
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\stmodindex{copy}
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\ttindex{copy}
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\ttindex{deepcopy}
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This module provides generic (shallow and deep) copying operations.
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Interface summary:
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\begin{verbatim}
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import copy
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x = copy.copy(y) # make a shallow copy of y
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x = copy.deepcopy(y) # make a deep copy of y
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\end{verbatim}
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For module specific errors, \code{copy.Error} is raised.
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The difference between shallow and deep copying is only relevant for
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compound objects (objects that contain other objects, like lists or
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class instances):
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\begin{itemize}
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\item
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A {\em shallow copy} constructs a new compound object and then (to the
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extent possible) inserts {\em references} into it to the objects found
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in the original.
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\item
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A {\em deep copy} constructs a new compound object and then,
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recursively, inserts {\em copies} into it of the objects found in the
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original.
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\end{itemize}
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Two problems often exist with deep copy operations that don't exist
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with shallow copy operations:
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\begin{itemize}
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\item
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Recursive objects (compound objects that, directly or indirectly,
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contain a reference to themselves) may cause a recursive loop.
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\item
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Because deep copy copies {\em everything} it may copy too much, e.g.
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administrative data structures that should be shared even between
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copies.
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\end{itemize}
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Python's \code{deepcopy()} operation avoids these problems by:
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\begin{itemize}
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\item
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keeping a table of objects already copied during the current
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copying pass; and
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\item
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letting user-defined classes override the copying operation or the
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set of components copied.
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\end{itemize}
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This version does not copy types like module, class, function, method,
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nor stack trace, stack frame, nor file, socket, window, nor array, nor
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any similar types.
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Classes can use the same interfaces to control copying that they use
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to control pickling: they can define methods called
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\code{__getinitargs__()}, \code{__getstate__()} and
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\code{__setstate__()}. See the description of module \code{pickle}
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for information on these methods.
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\stmodindex{pickle}
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\ttindex{__getinitargs__}
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\ttindex{__getstate__}
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\ttindex{__setstate__}
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