working with pointers

[Duncan Booth]

Leif K-Brooks wrote:

> Duncan Booth wrote:
>> The constant integers are created in advance, not when you do the 
>> assignment.
> 
> But that's just an optimization, not Python's defined behavior. It seems
> more useful to me to think of all integers as being created at
> assignment time, even if CPython doesn't actually do that.
> 

Alternatively think of all integers as existing all of the time, whether or 
not they are referenced.

Yes, it is just an optimisation, but it is one which results in an 
observable difference in behaviour. i.e. if all integers are created as 
they are needed you will never share integers.

Of course, if all integers existed all of the time then I guess you might 
expect 'a==b' to always imply 'a is b', so my interpretation is differently 
inaccurate.