Python internals question

[Helmut Jarausch]

Peter Anderson wrote:
> Hi! I am slowly teaching myself Python. I was reading David Beazley's 
> excellent book "Python - Essential Reference"; in particular about 
> variables. Let me quote:
> 
> "Python is a dynamically typed language in which names can represent 
> values of different types during the execution of a program. In fact the 
> names used in the program are really just labels for various quantities 
> and objects. The assignment operator simply creates an association 
> between a name and a value. This is different from C, for example, in 
> which a name (variable) represents a fixed size and location in memory..."
> 
> As an old mainframe programmer, I understand the way C does things with 
> variable but this text got me wondering how Python handles this 
> "association" between variable name and value at the lower level. Is it 
> like a fifo list?
> 
> If there is any Python guru that can help I would be most interested in 
> your thoughts.
> 

Please have a look at

http://effbot.org/zone/call-by-object.htm

and

http://rg03.wordpress.com/2007/04/21/semantics-of-python-variable-names-from-a-c-perspective/


-- 
Helmut Jarausch

Lehrstuhl fuer Numerische Mathematik
RWTH - Aachen University
D 52056 Aachen, Germany