Modifying a list inside a function

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If you assign something to the variable list_arg, it will from then on point to the new value. The value it pointed to before that assignment (your original list) will stay unchanged.

If you, instead, assign something to elements of that list, this will change the original list:

list_arg[:] = list(a)

This will make your code work as you wanted it.

But keep in mind that in-place changes are hard to understand and probably can confuse the next developer who has to maintain your code.

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