1.2. String Interning

  • Method of storing only one copy of each distinct string value, which must be immutable

  • many high level languages use it

  • string literals and values are internally kept in a hashed list called 'string intern pool' and those which are identical are rendered as references to the same object

  • possible because str are immutable

  • implementation dependent

  • Jython, IronPython, PyPy and others may intern more aggressively

  • Calling the intern() function on strings will "force" a string to have the same object identity as any equivalent and previously interned string

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_interning

1.2.1. Example

CPython 3.7, 3.8, 3.9:

('a' * 4096) is ('a' * 4096)
# True

('a' * 4097) is ('a' * 4097)
# False
../../_images/oop-identity-str-11.png

Figure 1.13. Define str

../../_images/oop-identity-str-21.png

Figure 1.14. Define another str with the same value

../../_images/oop-identity-str-31.png

Figure 1.15. Define another str with different value