Mutability
Mutability is a programming concept that refers to whether an object's state can be modified after it is created. Mutable objects can be changed, while immutable objects cannot be altered once instantiated. This distinction is fundamental in programming languages and affects memory management, concurrency, and data integrity.
Developers should understand mutability to write efficient, safe, and predictable code, especially in concurrent or functional programming contexts. It is crucial for optimizing performance (e.g., using mutable data structures for in-place modifications) and ensuring thread safety (e.g., preferring immutability to avoid race conditions). Use cases include designing APIs, implementing caching mechanisms, and managing state in applications like web servers or data pipelines.