Storing a reference to a reference in Python? -

using python, there way store reference reference, can change reference refers in context? example, suppose have following class:

class foo:    def __init__(self):       self.standalone = 3       self.lst = [4, 5, 6] 

i create analogous following:

class reassigner:    def __init__(self, target):       self.target = target    def reassign(self, value):       # not sure here, reassigns reference given target value 

such following code

f = foo() rstandalone = reassigner(f.standalone) # presumably syntax might change rindex = reassigner(f.lst[1]) rstandalone.reassign(7) rindex.reassign(9) 

would result in f.standalone equal 7 , f.lst equal [4, 9, 6].

essentially, analogue pointer-to-pointer.

in short, it's not possible. @ all. closest equivalent storing reference object member/item want reassign, plus attribute name/index/key, , use setattr/setitem. however, yields quite different syntax, , have differentiate between two:

class attributereassigner:     def __init__(self, obj, attr):         # use imagination     def reassign(self, val):         setattr(self.obj, self.attr, val)  class itemreassigner:     def __init__(self, obj, key):         # use imagination     def reassign(self, val):         self.obj[self.key] = val  f = foo() rstandalone = attributereassigner(f, 'standalone') rindex = itemreassigner(f.lst, 1) rstandalone.reassign(7) rindex.reassign(9) 

i've used similar, valid use cases few , far between. globals/module members, can use either module object or globals(), depending on whether you're inside module or outside of it. there no equivalent local variables @ -- result of locals() cannot used change locals reliably, it's useful inspecting.

i've used similar, valid use cases few , far between.