Python's Mutable vs Immutable Types: What's the Difference?

Differences Between Python's Mutable and Immutable Types

Stephen Gruppetta
Stephen Gruppetta 10 Lessons 49m intermediate data-structures python
Start Now Rate and Review

As a Python developer, you’ll have to deal with mutable and immutable objects sooner or later. Mutable objects are those that allow you to change their value or data in place without affecting the object’s identity. In contrast, immutable objects don’t allow this kind of operation. You’ll just have the option of creating new objects of the same type with different values.

In Python, mutability is a characteristic that may profoundly influence your decision when choosing which data type to use in solving a given programming problem. Therefore, you need to know how mutable and immutable objects work in Python.

In this video course, you’ll:

  • Understand how mutability and immutability work under the hood in Python
  • Explore immutable and mutable built-in data types in Python
  • Identify and avoid some common mutability-related gotchas
  • Understand and control how mutability affects your custom classes

What’s Included:

Downloadable Resources:

Start Now

Differences Between Python's Mutable and Immutable Types

10 Lessons 49m

  1. 1. Differences Between Python's Mutable and Immutable Types (Overview)02:59
  2. 2. Understanding Mutable vs Immutable Types02:45
  3. 3. Learning the Difference Between a Variable Name and the Object05:01
  4. 4. Looking at Immutable Built-in Data Types: Numbers & Booleans05:05
  5. 5. Seeing More Immutable Built-in Data Types: Strings & Tuples06:00
  6. 6. Switching to Mutable Built-in Data Types: Lists04:46
  7. 7. Exploring Mutable Built-in Data Types: Dictionaries & Sets05:09
  8. 8. Avoiding Mutability-Related Gotchas: Aliasing & Mutating Arguments06:53
  9. 9. Avoiding Further Gotchas: Mutable Default Arguments & Copying Objects08:42
  10. 10. Differences Between Python's Mutable and Immutable Types (Summary)01:48
Start Now

About Stephen Gruppetta

Stephen worked as a research physicist in the past, developing imaging systems to detect eye disease. He now focuses on Python education!

» More about Stephen

Each tutorial at Real Python is created by a team of developers so that it meets our high quality standards. The team members who worked on this tutorial are:

Aldren

Brenda

Christopher

Tappan

Leodanis

Geir Arne

Bartosz

Kate

← Browse All Courses