Python Mutable vs Immutable Objects

• Python Mutable vs Immutable Objects
• Mutable Example
• Immutable Example

Python Mutable vs Immutable Objects

In Python Mutable objects are following. Also, the custom classes generally we create are mutable.

• list
• dict
• set

Immutable objects are faster to access but expensive to change because python has to recreate a copy. In Python Tuple is Immutable, and primitive data types are also immutable.

• Tuple
• Int
• Float
• Complex
• Bytes

Meanwhile mutable objects are easy to change. It’s recommended to use Mutable objects when add, update into content needed.

Check the following example to update an list object which is mutable. It means that it apply changes to existing object in memory.

Mutable Example

countries = ["USA", "Canada", "Australia"]

print (countries)

countries [1] = "Findland"

print (countries)

Immutable Example

Remember, tuple (immutable objects) are faster to access.

babiesName = ("Martha", "Stuart", "Jim")  

print(babiesName[0])

However, if you try to update an item inside tuple it will give you an error.

babiesName = ("Martha", "Stuart", "Jim")  

babiesName[0] = "Angela"

print(babiesName[0])

So, there is a work around to to update tuple. First convert tuple into list and update it after that reconvert list to tuple. Although, it’s not the good practice.

babiesName = ("Martha", "Stuart", "Jim")  

babiesNameList = list (babiesName)
babiesNameList[0] = "Angela"
babiesName = tuple(babiesNameList)

print(babiesName)