Python Articles

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My Python program is too slow. How do I speed it up?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 382 Views

When your Python program runs slowly, several optimization techniques can significantly improve performance. Here are the most effective approaches to speed up your code. Avoid Excessive Abstraction Minimize unnecessary abstraction layers, especially tiny functions or methods. Each abstraction creates indirection that forces the interpreter to work harder. When indirection overhead exceeds useful work, your program slows down. Reduce Looping Overhead For simple loop bodies, the interpreter overhead of the loop itself can be substantial. The map() function often performs better, but requires the loop body to be a function call. Traditional Loop Example Here's ...

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Why did changing list 'y' also change list 'x' in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 345 Views

In Python, when you assign one list variable to another using y = x, both variables point to the same object in memory. This means modifying one list will affect the other, which often surprises beginners. Example: Lists Share the Same Reference Let's see what happens when we assign one list to another and then modify it − x = [] y = x print("Value of y =", y) print("Value of x =", x) y.append(25) print("After changing...") print("Value of y =", y) print("Value of x =", x) Value of y = [] ...

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What is the difference between arguments and parameters in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 2K+ Views

The concepts of arguments and parameters are fundamental parts of functions in Python. Understanding their difference is crucial for writing effective Python code. A parameter is a variable listed inside the parentheses in the function definition. An argument is the actual value passed to the function when it is called. Basic Function Example Let's start with a simple function to understand the basics ? # Define a function def greet(): print("Hello, World!") # Function call greet() Hello, World! Function with Parameters Here's a function ...

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Why are default values shared between objects in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 2K+ Views

Default values in Python are created only once when a function is defined, not each time the function is called. This behavior can cause unexpected issues when using mutable objects (like lists or dictionaries) as default parameters. Understanding this concept is crucial for writing reliable Python code. The Problem with Mutable Defaults When you use a mutable object as a default parameter, all function calls share the same object. Here's a demonstration of the problem: def add_item(item, target_list=[]): target_list.append(item) return target_list # First call result1 = add_item("apple") ...

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What are the "best practices" for using import in a Python module?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 2K+ Views

The import statement is fundamental to Python programming, but following best practices ensures clean, maintainable code. Here are the essential guidelines for using imports effectively in your Python modules. Multiple Imports on Separate Lines Each module should be imported on its own line for better readability ? # Good practice import numpy import pandas import matplotlib.pyplot print("Modules imported successfully") Modules imported successfully However, importing multiple items from the same module on one line is acceptable ? from os import path, getcwd, listdir print("Current directory:", getcwd()) ...

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How do I share global variables across modules in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 6K+ Views

To share global variables across modules in Python, you need to understand global variable scope and create a shared configuration module. This approach allows multiple modules to access and modify the same variables. Global Variable Scope A global variable is accessible from anywhere in the program − both inside and outside functions. Here's how global variables work ? # Global variable counter = 10 # Function accessing global variable def display_counter(): print(counter) # Accessing global variable outside function print(counter) # Calling the function display_counter() # Accessing global variable ...

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Why do Python lambdas defined in a loop with different values all return the same result?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 172 Views

Before understanding why Python lambdas defined in a loop with different values all return the same result, let us first learn about Lambda expressions and the concept of late binding closures. Python Lambda Lambda expressions allow defining anonymous functions. A lambda function is an anonymous function i.e. a function without a name. Let us see the syntax ? lambda arguments: expressions The keyword lambda defines a lambda function. A lambda expression contains one or more arguments, but it can have only one expression. Example Let us see an example ? ...

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What does the slash(/) in the parameter list of a function mean in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 5K+ Views

The slash (/) in a function's parameter list marks the boundary between positional-only parameters and other parameters. Parameters before the slash can only be passed by position, not as keyword arguments. Basic Function Example Let's first understand a regular Python function with parameters ? # Creating a Function def demo(car_name): print("Car:", car_name) # Function calls demo("BMW") demo("Tesla") Car: BMW Car: Tesla Positional-Only Parameters with Slash The slash (/) denotes that parameters before it are positional-only. Arguments are mapped to parameters based solely on their position. ...

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How do I modify a string in place in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 2K+ Views

Strings in Python are immutable, meaning you cannot modify them in place. However, you can create new strings or use mutable alternatives like io.StringIO and the array module for in-place modifications. Why Strings Cannot Be Modified In Place When you try to change a string character, Python creates a new string object rather than modifying the original ? text = "Hello" print("Original:", text) print("ID:", id(text)) # This creates a new string, doesn't modify the original text = text.replace('H', 'J') print("Modified:", text) print("New ID:", id(text)) Original: Hello ID: 140712345678912 Modified: Jello New ID: ...

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How can my code discover the name of an object in Python?

AmitDiwan
AmitDiwan
Updated on 26-Mar-2026 2K+ Views

In Python, objects don't have inherent names − variable names are just labels that point to objects in memory. When multiple variables reference the same object, there's no way to determine which variable name was used to create it. Why Objects Don't Have Names Consider this example where both ob1 and ob2 reference the same object ? # Creating a Demo Class class Demo: pass # Multiple references to the same object ob1 = Demo() ob2 = ob1 print("ob1 identity:", id(ob1)) print("ob2 identity:", id(ob2)) print("Same object?", ob1 is ob2) ...

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