1. Introduction
In Python, lists and dictionaries are versatile ways to store collections of items. A list is an ordered collection of items that can be of different types. Lists are similar to arrays in other languages but with added flexibility. On the other hand, a dictionary is an unordered collection that stores data in a key-value pair format. It's like a real-life dictionary where you have a word (key) and its definition (value).
2. Key Points
1. Ordering: Lists are ordered, dictionaries are unordered.
2. Access: List elements are accessed by their position and dictionary elements by a key.
3. Mutability: Both lists and dictionaries are mutable.
4. Syntax: Lists use square brackets [], dictionaries use curly braces {}.
3. Differences
| Characteristic | List | Dictionary |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering | Ordered | Unordered |
| Access | By index | By key |
| Mutability | Mutable | Mutable |
| Syntax | Square brackets [] | Curly braces {} |
4. Example
# Example of a List
my_list = [1, 'two', 3.0]
# Example of a Dictionary
my_dict = {'one': 1, 'two': 2, 'three': 3}
Output:
List:
[1, 'two', 3.0]
Dictionary:
{'one': 1, 'two': 2, 'three': 3}
Explanation:
1. The list my_list shows elements accessed by their index positions.
2. The dictionary my_dict demonstrates accessing elements by their keys.
5. When to use?
- Use lists when you have a collection of items that need to be ordered, and you'll access them using their index.
- Use dictionaries for collections of related data where each item is a pair of a key and a value, useful for fast lookups by key.
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