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

Python/Codingeasy0.5 min readPremium
Frequency
Low
Asked at 2 companies
Category
179
questions in Python/Coding
Difficulty Split
127E|24M|28H
in this category
Total Bank
1,863
across 7 categories
Asked at these companies
AltimetrikInfosys
Interview Pro Tip

Red Flag: Modifying a shallow-copied list of dicts and being surprised when the original changes. Pro-Move: 'I use shallow copy for config snapshots where nested refs are OK; deep copy only when I need full isolation, and I avoid it for large objects.'

Key Concepts Tested
python
Expert AnswerPremium
96 wordsInterview-ready
**Shallow copy** (`copy.copy()`): New top-level object; nested objects are references. Mutating nested objects in the copy affects the original. **Deep copy** (`copy.deepcopy()`): Recursive copy of all nested objects; fully independent. **Why it matters**: Shallow copy is cheaper but can cause subtle bugs when sharing nested structures. **Scalability trade-off**: Deep copy is O(total objects) and can be slow/hung on cycles without special handling....
The complete answer continues with detailed implementation patterns, architectural trade-offs, and production-grade considerations. It covers performance optimization strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and real-world examples from companies like Altimetrik, Infosys. The answer also includes follow-up discussion points that interviewers commonly explore.

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