What are the differences between immutable and mutable types?

What are the differences between immutable and mutable types?

Immutable types are those whose state cannot be modified after creation, like strings and tuples in Python. Mutable types can be changed, like lists and dictionaries.

Can you give me examples of each?

Sure! An example of an immutable type is a string, like 'hello'. A mutable type example is a list, like [1, 2, 3]. You can change the list but not the string.

Why would I use immutable types?

Immutable types are useful for ensuring data integrity and preventing accidental changes, which can help avoid bugs.

Are there performance differences between them?

Yes, immutable types can be more memory efficient and faster in certain contexts, especially in multi-threaded environments.