Mutable

/ˈmjutəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Describing an object or data structure that can be changed after creation, allowing its internal state to be modified through various operations. Most objects in imperative programming languages are mutable by default.

Etymology

From Latin 'mutabilis' meaning 'changeable', from 'mutare' (to change). The term has been used in programming since the early days of computing to distinguish objects that can be modified from those that cannot, becoming more prominent with the rise of functional programming.

Kelly Says

Mutable objects are like a whiteboard - you can write on it, erase parts, add more content, and completely change what's written there. The same board remains, but its contents can be modified as many times as you want!

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