Difference between dict.clear() and assigning {} in Python

Question

In python, is there a difference between calling clear() and assigning {} to a dictionary? If yes, what is it? Example:

d = {\"stuff\":\"         


        

Answer 1

Mutating methods are always useful if the original object is not in scope:

def fun(d):
    d.clear()
    d["b"] = 2

d={"a": 2}
fun(d)
d          # {'b': 2}

Re-assigning the dictionary would create a new object and wouldn't modify the original one.