Data Structures
Data Structures in Python
Python offers several built-in data structures that are essential for organizing and manipulating data efficiently. Here’s a brief overview of the main data structures in Python:
Lists
Lists are ordered, mutable sequences of elements. They are created using square brackets and can contain items of different data types.
Example:
fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
Dictionaries
Dictionaries are unordered collections of key-value pairs. They are created using curly braces and allow fast lookups based on unique keys.
Example:
person = {'name': 'John', 'age': 30, 'city': 'New York'}
Sets
Sets are unordered collections of unique elements. They are created using curly braces or the set() function and are useful for removing duplicates and performing set operations.
Example:
unique_numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Tuples
Tuples are ordered, immutable sequences of elements. They are created using parentheses and are often used for grouping related data.
Example:
coordinates = (10, 20)
Each of these data structures has its own strengths and use cases, allowing Python developers to choose the most appropriate one for their specific needs.