List getting extended when assigned to itself

[Krishnan Shankar]

Hi Python Friends,

I came across an example which is as below,

>>> var = [1, 12, 123, 1234]
>>> var
[1, 12, 123, 1234]
>>> var[:0]
[]
>>> var[:0] = var
>>> var
[1, 12, 123, 1234, 1, 12, 123, 1234]
>>>

Here in var[:0] = var we are assigning an entire list to the beginning of
itself. So shouldn't it be something like,

[[1, 12, 123, 1234], 1, 12, 123, 1234]

It happens when we do the below,

>>> var = [1, 12, 123, 1234]
>>> var[0] = var
>>> var
[[...], 12, 123, 1234]
>>>

Literally var[0] = var and var[:0] = var almost meens the same. But why is
the difference in output? Can anyone explain what happens when
slicing assignment and direct assignment.

Regards,
Krishnan
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