What are advanced Python iterators and how can I use them?

What are advanced Python iterators and how can I use them?

Advanced Python iterators allow for more complex iteration patterns, like custom iterators and generator functions.

Can you give me an example of a custom iterator?

Sure! Here's a simple custom iterator that generates squares of numbers:

class SquareIterator:
    def __init__(self, max):
        self.max = max
        self.current = 0

    def __iter__(self):
        return self

    def __next__(self):
        if self.current < self.max:
            result = self.current ** 2
            self.current += 1
            return result
        else:
            raise StopIteration

How do I use this iterator in a loop?

You can use it in a for loop like this:

for square in SquareIterator(5):
    print(square)

This will print the squares of numbers from 0 to 4.

What are generator functions and how do they relate to iterators?

Generator functions simplify iterator creation using the yield keyword, allowing you to produce values on-the-fly.