Both lists and tuples are used to store collections of items, but they have some key differences in terms of mutability, syntax, and use cases:
Lists:
- Mutable: Lists are mutable, which means you can add, remove, or modify elements after creating a list.
- Syntax: Lists are defined using square brackets
[ ]
. - Use Cases: Lists are commonly used when you need a dynamic collection of items that can change over time. You might use lists when you want to store and manipulate data like a list of names, numbers, or any other sequence of elements that may need modification.
- What Is Python Tuple: Detailed Explanation
- What Is Tuple Vs Array In Python?
- What Is Tuple Vs String In Python?
- Real-time Example for Tuple in Python [2 Examples]
Example of a list:
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 'apple', 'banana']
my_list.append(4) # Add an element to the list
my_list[0] = 10 # Modify an element
Code language: Python (python)
Tuples:
- Immutable: Tuples are immutable, which means you cannot change their elements after creating a tuple. Once a tuple is created, it cannot be altered.
- Syntax: Tuples are defined using parentheses
( )
, although they can also be defined without any enclosing symbols. - Use Cases: Tuples are typically used when you have a collection of items that should remain constant throughout the program’s execution. They are useful for representing fixed collections of related data, function return values with multiple components, or as keys in dictionaries because they are hashable (due to their immutability).
Example of a tuple:
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 'apple', 'banana')
# my_tuple[0] = 10 # This will raise a TypeError because tuples are immutable
# Defining a tuple without parentheses (Python allows this)
another_tuple = 4, 5, 'cherry'
Code language: Python (python)
The main difference between lists and tuples in Python is their mutability. Lists are mutable and can be changed, while tuples are immutable and cannot be modified after creation. Your choice between lists and tuples should be based on whether you need a collection that can change (use a list) or one that should remain constant (use a tuple).
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