Python list slice syntax used for no obvious reason

Question

I occasionally see the list slice syntax used in Python code like this:

newList = oldList[:]

Surely this is just the same as:

Answer 1

As it has already been answered, I'll simply add a simple demonstration:

>>> a = [1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> b = a
>>> c = a[:]
>>> b[2] = 10
>>> c[3] = 20
>>> a
[1, 2, 10, 4]
>>> b
[1, 2, 10, 4]
>>> c
[1, 2, 3, 20]