Python beginner here. Confused about the nature of list assignment.
a = [1, 2, 3]
b = a.reverse()
>>>a
>>>[3,2,1]
>>>b
>>> # nothing shows up
or
e = [1,2,3]
f = e.append(4)
>>>e
>>>[1,2,3,4]
>>>f
>>> # nothing shows up
Why does assigning to b or f not work here. I believe it has to do with the mutability of lists? Am i completely wrong? Thanks
Both these methods do an in-place modification, i.e.:
b = a.reverse()
f = e.append(4)
They modify the original object and do not create a new one. Hence, you see None when you try and print these.
As per @juanpa.arrivillaga:
Note: The fact that these methods return None is a convention.