What are the differences between dataclass and namedtuple in Python?

What are the differences between dataclass and namedtuple in Python?

Both dataclass and namedtuple are used to create classes for storing data, but they have some key differences.

Can you explain how to create a dataclass?

Sure! You can create a dataclass using the @dataclass decorator from the dataclasses module. Here's a simple example:

from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class Point:
    x: int
    y: int

This automatically generates an __init__, __repr__, and other methods for you.

What about namedtuple? How do I create one?

You can create a namedtuple using the namedtuple factory function from the collections module. Here's an example:

from collections import namedtuple

Point = namedtuple('Point', ['x', 'y'])
point = Point(1, 2)

This creates a simple class with named fields.

Which one should I use for my project?

It depends on your needs. Use dataclass if you need mutable objects or want to leverage features like default values and type hints. Use namedtuple for lightweight, immutable objects.