How to copy a list in python ?

To copy a list in python, a solution is to use the "built-in" function list(), example:

>>> L1 = ['a','b','c','d','e','f']
>>> L2 = list(L1)
>>> L2
['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']

Another solution is to use the list comprehension:

>>> L1 = ['a','b','c','d','e','f']
>>> L2 = [i for i in L1]
>>> L2
['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']

WARNING: to copy a list do not use the = operator, because the two lists will be then linked (in other words if you change a list the other list will be modified as well)

>>> L1 = ['a','b','c','d','e','f']
>>> L2 = L1
>>> L1
['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']
>>> L2
['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']
>>> del L2[0]
>>> L2
['b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']

here by editing the L2 list, we also changed L1:

>>> L1
['b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f']

References