What is the difference between iterators and generators in Python?

What is the difference between iterators and generators in Python?

Iterators are objects that implement the iterator protocol, allowing you to traverse through a collection. Generators are a simpler way to create iterators using the yield statement.

Can you give me an example of an iterator?

Sure! An example of an iterator is a list in Python. You can use the iter() function to get an iterator from a list and then use next() to access its elements.

And how about a generator?

A generator can be created using a function with the yield keyword. For example, a function that yields numbers from 1 to 5 would look like this: def count(): for i in range(1, 6): yield i.

What are the advantages of using generators over iterators?

Generators are more memory efficient because they yield items one at a time and only when required, while iterators may require the entire collection to be stored in memory.