[Python-Dev] Equal but different keys in dicts
Michael Chermside
mcherm at mcherm.com
Sun Jul 11 05:06:12 CEST 2004
Suppose you create two objects which are, in fact, different, but which are ==
to each other.
>>> class AllEqual:
... def __init__(self, name):
... self.name = name
... def __repr__(self):
... return self.name
... def __eq__(self, other):
... return 1
... def __hash__(self)
... return 47
...
>>> a = AllEqual('a')
>>> b = AllEqual('b')
>>> a == b
1
Now use one as a key in a dict, then try re-setting that value:
>>> map = {a:'one'}
>>> map
{a: 'one'}
>>> map[b] = 'two'
>>> map
{a: 'two'}
That last line could just as well have read "{b: 'two'}", but the implementation
of dict keeps the ORIGINAL key rather than using the NEW key. This is the
behavior of both CPython and Jython.
My question is this: is this behavior intentional, or is it an "implementation
detail"? If intentional, is there a reason for the choice, or is it just that
one or the other behavior needed to be chosen?
[PS: I'm hoping that a good answer to this question will allow me to close bug
748126]
-- Michael Chermside
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