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2. Object Lifecycle

Python objects have a lifecycle: creation, usage, and destruction.

Creation​

Objects are created when assigned:

x = [1, 2, 3]

Usage​

Objects are referenced and manipulated by variables.

Destruction​

When no references remain, the object is garbage collected.

Example​

def foo():
    x = [1, 2, 3]
    return x

y = foo()  # x continues to live because it is returned

Wrap-Up​

Objects live as long as references to them exist.