working with pointers

[Steven Bethard]

Michael wrote:
> Do expicit pointers exist in python??
> 
> if i do:
> 
> a = [5,7]
> b = a
> 
> a.empty()
> 
> b = ?

This is what the interactive prompt is for.  Try it:

py> a = [5,7]
py> b = a
py> a.empty()
Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "<interactive input>", line 1, in ?
AttributeError: 'list' object has no attribute 'empty'

Well, looks like you get an AttributeError.  Let's try a method that 
actually exists instead:

py> a.pop()
7
py> a
[5]
py> b
[5]

So, as you can see, since 'a' and 'b' are both names referring to the 
same object, when you modify the object referred to by 'a', you are also 
modifying the object referred to by 'b'.

> how do i do explicit pointers??

I don't know what you mean by "explicit pointers".  Care to elaborate? 
It also might help if you explained what it is you think you want 
"explicit pointers" to do.

STeVe