copy-list (Function)

Syntax:

Arguments and Values:

list—a proper list or a dotted list.

copy—a list.

Description:

Returns a copy of list. If list is a dotted list, the resulting list will also be a dotted list.

Only the list structure of list is copied; the elements of the resulting list are the same as the corresponding elements of the given list.

Examples:

 (setq lst (list 1 (list 2 3))) → (1 (2 3))
 (setq slst lst) → (1 (2 3))
 (setq clst (copy-list lst)) → (1 (2 3))
 (eq slst lst) → true
 (eq clst lst) → false
 (equal clst lst) → true
 (rplaca lst "one") → ("one" (2 3))
 slst → ("one" (2 3))
 clst → (1 (2 3))
 (setf (caadr lst) "two") → "two"
 lst → ("one" ("two" 3))
 slst → ("one" ("two" 3))
 clst → (1 ("two" 3))

Exceptional Situations:

The consequences are undefined if list is a circular list.

See Also:

copy-alist, copy-seq, copy-tree

Notes:

The copy created is equal to list, but not eq.