What is `weakref.ref()` in Python and why is it used?

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Python Developer — Hard

What is `weakref.ref()` in Python and why is it used?

Key points

  • `weakref.ref()` allows tracking objects without preventing their garbage collection.
  • It is commonly used in observer patterns, caches, and mappings.
  • The method returns the object or None if it has been collected.
  • It is not a thread-safe reference or a copy-on-write reference.

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