What are the differences between various iterator patterns?

What are the differences between the Iterator and the Composite patterns?

The Iterator pattern provides a way to access elements of a collection sequentially without exposing its underlying representation, while the Composite pattern allows you to compose objects into tree structures to represent part-whole hierarchies. They serve different purposes in design.

Can you explain how the Iterator pattern is implemented in Python?

In Python, the Iterator pattern can be implemented using the __iter__() and __next__() methods. You define a class that implements these methods to allow iteration over its elements.

What are some use cases for the Iterator pattern?

Use cases for the Iterator pattern include traversing collections like lists or trees, allowing for different traversal algorithms, and providing a uniform interface for different data structures.

How does the Iterator pattern compare to the Generator pattern in Python?

The Iterator pattern is a design pattern that requires a class to implement the iterator interface, while the Generator pattern in Python uses functions with yield to create iterators more easily and concisely.