Reference to Part of List - Python

Question

If I have a list in python, how can I create a reference to part of the list? For example:

myList = [\"*\", \"*\", \"*\",  \"*\", \"*\", \"*\", \"*\", \"*\",         


        

Answer 1

I think that it is impossible. It would lead to many possible errors, for example: what when you append the list which is reference to part of a bigger list? Shall next element in big list be replaced, or inserted?

As far as I know, silce is internal mechanism for getting elements of the list. They do not create new list object, referencing to parts of older list object. Islice just iterates over the elements given by slice, it is also not the reference, but the actual object - changing it doesn't affect original list. Or am I mistaken?

As in comment, and that solution contributes really to Mr. Bastien, you can do:

sliceobject = slice(0,7,3)
for i in xrange(sliceobject.start, sliceobject.stop, sliceobject.step)
    myList[i] = whatever

That way you can access each specified element of your list by reference.