Lists and tuples are both used to store collections of items in Python, but they have key differences:
1. Mutability
- List: Mutable (can be changed after creation—elements can be added, removed, or modified).
- Tuple: Immutable (cannot be changed after creation—elements cannot be added, removed, or modified).
2. Syntax
- List: Defined using square brackets
[].
my_list = [1, 2, 3]
- Tuple: Defined using parentheses
().
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
3. Performance
- List: Slower (because of mutability, it has extra overhead).
- Tuple: Faster (because it is immutable, making it more memory-efficient).
4. Use Cases
- List: Used when data needs to be modified, sorted, or frequently changed.
- Tuple: Used when data should remain constant and not be accidentally modified (e.g., representing fixed data like coordinates or database records).
5. Memory Usage
- List: Takes more memory due to dynamic nature.
- Tuple: Takes less memory, making it more efficient in some cases.
6. Methods Available
- List: Has more built-in methods like
append(), remove(), sort(), etc.
- Tuple: Has fewer methods, mostly for accessing elements like
count() and index().
Example :
# List Example (Mutable)
my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_list.append(4) # Allowed
print(my_list) # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]
# Tuple Example (Immutable)
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
# my_tuple.append(4) # This will cause an error!
print(my_tuple) # Output: (1, 2, 3)
When to Use What?
- Use a list when you need to modify data.
- Use a tuple when you want to ensure data remains unchanged and for better performance.
