Question about this variable usage

[Ne0nguy]

I have been looking though an addon called BlackList, which the author seems to have abandoned.

The following is all working code... I just have no idea how it is possible:
In the TOC the only saved variable is BlackListConfig:

(7)	## SavedVariables: BlackListConfig

After VARIABLES_LOADED fires, this runs:

(54)	if ( not BlackListConfig ) then
(55)		 BlackListConfig = {};
(56)	end
(57)	
(58)	if ( not BlackListConfig[REALM] ) then
(59)		BlackListConfig[REALM] = {};
(60)	end
(61)	
(62)	if ( not BlackListConfig[REALM].blackList ) then
(63)		BlackListConfig[REALM].blackList = {};
(64)	end
(65)	
(66)	_blackList = BlackListConfig[REALM].blackList;

After this point there is no significant reference to "BlackListConfig[REALM].blackList". All changes and additions to the database use "_blackList". Yet all the changes that are made to _blackList are saved and loaded between sessions.

Is there anything special about the naming convention that allows this to happen? There is no direct code copying the contents of _blackList back to BlackListConfig[REALM].blackList at any time.

[Akryn]

Is there anything special about the naming convention that allows this to happen? There is no direct code copying the contents of _blackList back to BlackListConfig[REALM].blackList at any time.

Table variables are references to whatever table they're pointed at:

local x = {1,2,3,4,5}
local y = x
y[3] = "foo"
message(x[3]) --will display foo
local z = CopyTable(y)
z[3] = "bar"
message(y[3]) --will display foo

[Ne0nguy]

Thank you for your reply. That has cleared up a few things for me.

I always assumed it was just passing the contents onto the new variable rather than referencing it.