Cloning and Modifying Mutable Objects in Python

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Cloning and Modifying Mutable Objects in Python

The nature of how Python handles mutable and immutable data can make it easy to accidentally modify a different variable when passing mutable data structures into functions or methods as arguments. Being able to use a dictionary or list a variable's contents without changing the original can be very handy for creating a default configuration, or as a data template. In this hands-on lab, you'll be writing a small script that utilizes a data template to help generate information about a real estate transaction while ensuring that the original data isn't modified during the process. Completing this lab will demonstrate that you understand how data copying works within Python.

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Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Sep 13, 2025

Duration

1h 0m

Challenge

Parse the Template JSON File

There should always be a template.json file next to the script so that it can get an up-to-date picture of the values that don't change. When the script is initially run, this should be parsed and stored as the template variable.

Challenge

Prompt for the Values That Need to Be Changed

When the tool is run, it should present the user with a series of prompts like this:

$ python real_estate.py
Address
Street 1: [prompt]
Street 2: [prompt]
City: [prompt]
State: [prompt]
ZIP: [prompt]

Details
Square Footage: [prompt]
Bedrooms: [prompt]
Bathrooms: [prompt]
Amenities (use | between items): [prompt]

Was there a referrer? (Y or n): [prompt]
Referrer: [prompt ONLY if Y to previous]

Challenge

Export New Data to a New JSON File

Write the dictionary with the new values to a JSON file named after the street address of the property with the spaces converted to dashes.

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