What is the difference between deep copy and shallow copy in Python?

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Understanding Shallow Copy vs Deep Copy in Python

In Python, copying objects isn’t always straightforward—especially with complex data structures. Two main strategies exist:

• Shallow Copy: Creates a new container, but nested items remain references to the original. So modifying mutable nested objects in the copy also affects the original. Use copy.copy() or methods like list.copy() or slicing.

• Deep Copy: Creates a completely independent copy, including all nested elements. Changes in the new object don’t affect the original. Use copy.deepcopy().

Performance and Memory Trade-offs

• Speed & Memory: Shallow copies are faster and lighter on memory since they reuse nested references. Deep copies are slower and use more memory due to full recursive duplication..

• Real-World Impact: In projects with large nested data, deep copying can become a performance bottleneck—sometimes consuming milliseconds versus microseconds for shallow copies. In one case, it used ~25% of runtime.

Why It Matters in a Full Stack Python Course

As you build web apps in a Full Stack Python Course—handling request data, managing sessions, or cloning objects during API operations—mistaking shallow for deep copy (or vice versa) can introduce subtle bugs or inefficiencies.

How I-Hub Talent Can Help You

At I-Hub Talent, we ensure students thoroughly understand these crucial Python concepts. Our Full Stack Python Course includes:

• Clear, hands-on lessons on shallow vs deep copy in real-world contexts (e.g., nested data in web backends).

• Performance guidance on when and why to use each copying method.

• Supportive mentoring to debug tricky copy-related bugs and deepen conceptual clarity.

Conclusion

Grasping the difference between shallow and deep copy in Python is essential for writing reliable, efficient code—especially in full-stack applications involving nested data. With I-Hub Talent’s Full Stack Python Course, educational students can confidently master these concepts and avoid unexpected pitfalls with mutable structures. Ready to explore how shallow vs deep copy affects your own projects?

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