list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] what is the difference between list.clear() and if i declare list = [ ]

Question

list = [1,2,3,4,5]
list.clear()
print(list)

O/P : [ ]

---

list = [1,2,3,4,5]
list=[]
print(list)
O/P : [ ]

Both the case I am getting same output. So what's the difference between these two?

Answer 1

clear() will keep the same reference, but empty the list. [] creates a new list and assigns it to the variable.

Example:

>>> a = [1,2,3]
>>> b = a
>>> a is b
True
>>> a.clear()
>>> a is b
True
>>> a = []
>>> a is b
False

Note that a and b are still the same object after the clear, but different objects after you assign a new list to a.