Deque vs List: Which Should I Use?

What are the main differences between a deque and a list in Python?

A deque (double-ended queue) allows adding/removing elements from both ends efficiently, while a list is optimized for random access.

In what scenarios should I use a deque instead of a list?

Use a deque when you need fast appends and pops from both ends, like in queue implementations or breadth-first search.

Are there any performance considerations I should be aware of?

Yes, deques have O(1) time complexity for appends and pops from both ends, while lists have O(n) for pops from the front.

Can you give me an example of when to use a list?

Use a list when you need to access elements by index frequently or when the size of the collection is fixed.