Lists and tuples are both data structures in Python used to store collections of items. However, they have some key differences:
Mutability:
- Lists are mutable, which means you can modify their contents (add, remove, or change elements) after they are created.
- Tuples, on the other hand, are immutable. Once you create a tuple, you cannot change its contents. If you need to modify a tuple, you have to create a new one.
Syntax:
- Lists are created using square brackets, e.g., my_list = [1, 2, 3].
- Tuples are created using parentheses, e.g., my_tuple = (1, 2, 3).
Performance:
- Due to their mutability, lists are generally slightly less memory-efficient and slower to iterate through than tuples.
- Tuples, being immutable, have better performance characteristics in situations where the data should not be changed.
Use Cases:
- Lists are typically used when you have a collection of items that may need to be modified during the program’s Execution.
- Tuples are often used when you have a collection of items that should remain constant throughout the program, like coordinates or a set of configuration values.
Example:
my_list = [1, 2, 3] # This is a list
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3) # This is a tuple
# Mutability
my_list[0] = 4 # Valid for a list
# my_tuple[0] = 4 # This will raise an error since tuples are immutable
# Use case
coordinates = (3, 4) # Use a tuple for fixed (x, y) coordinates
employee_data = ["John", 30, "Engineer"] # Use a list for employee data that may change
