Get a pointer to a list element

Question

I was wondering if it was possible to get a \"pointer\" to an element in a python list. That way, I would be able to access my element directly without needing to know my el

Answer 1

There's no concept of pointers on python (at least that I'm aware of).

In case you are saving objects inside your list, you can simply keep a reference to that object.

In the case you are saving primitive values into your list, the approach I would take is to make a wrapper object around the value/values and keep a reference of that object to use it later without having to access the list. This way your wrapper is working as a mutable object and can be modified no matter from where you are accesing it.

An example:

class FooWrapper(object):
    def __init__(self, value):
         self.value = value

# save an object into a list
l = []
obj = FooWrapper(5)
l.append(obj)

# add another object, so the initial object is shifted
l.insert(0, FooWrapper(1))

# change the value of the initial object
obj.value = 3
print l[1].value # prints 3 since it's still the same reference