python / python/cpython

Buggy or strange behaviour matching mutable data with `re`

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#143,516 3 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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extension-modules topic-regex type-bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Bug report

Bug description:
import re
data = bytearray(b'1')
match = re.match(b'1', data)
print(match[0])  # b'1'
data[:] = b'2'
print(match[0])  # b'2'

If you match against mutable data (e.g., a bytearray) and change that data after matching, the matched values reported by the match change.

Is this a) a bug or b) strange behavior that should be pointed out in the docs (or c) none of the above)?

CPython versions tested on:

3.13

Operating systems tested on:

Linux

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by running the provided Python 3.13 reproducer with a mutable bytearray and inspect the resulting match values after mutation. Read the relevant re behavior and existing coverage to determine whether this is an implementation bug or documented behavior. Done means the behavior has a clear resolution, with matching regression coverage or documentation as appropriate.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
backend
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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