Mutability

Mutable means that a memory location can be reassigned new values.

Related concepts:  ValueAssignmentVariable

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Immutable object — In object-oriented (OO) and functional programming, an immutable object (unchangeable object) is an object whose state cannot be modified after it is created. This is in contrast to a mutable object (changeable object), which can be modified after it is created. In some cases, an object is considered immutable even if some internally used attributes change, but the object's state appears unchanging from an external point of view.

Misconceptions about Mutability

7 documented Misconceptions

ConstReferenceImpliesImmutability — JavaScript

An object referred to by a const variable is an immutable object

FinalReferenceImpliesImmutability — Java

An object referred to by a final variable is an immutable object

ImmutableRequiresFinalParameters — Java

Immutable classes need final constructor/method parameters

PrivateFieldsImplyImmutability — Java

A class where all fields are private is immutable

PrivateMeansFinal — Java

A private field cannot be changed

ThisAssignable — Java

One can assign to this

ThisAssignable — JavaScript

One can assign to this