FAQ: Can you differentiate between a List and a Tuple?
FAQ
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Can you differentiate between a List and a Tuple?
List vs Tuple in Python
In programming, particularly in Python, lists and tuples are used to store collections of items. They have key differences:
Mutability
- List: Lists are mutable, meaning they can be modified after creation (change, add, or remove elements).
- Tuple: Tuples are immutable. Once created, they cannot be altered.
Syntax
- List: Defined using square brackets, e.g.,
my_list = [1, 2, 3]. - Tuple: Defined using parentheses, e.g.,
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3). A single element tuple requires a trailing comma:(1,).
Usage
- List: Used for collections of similar items that may need modification. Suitable where order is important and contents might change.
- Tuple: Used for heterogenous data and for data that should not change. Commonly used for data passing where modification is not desired.
Performance
- List: Slightly slower than tuples in some contexts due to flexibility and mutability.
- Tuple: Smaller memory footprint and more efficient performance, particularly with large amounts of data.
Methods
- List: Has several built-in methods like
append(),remove(),pop(), etc., for versatile manipulation. - Tuple: Fewer built-in methods due to immutability. Methods like
count()andindex()are available.
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