What are the downsides of using immutable variables in programming?

What are the downsides of using immutable variables in programming?

While immutable variables have benefits like safety and predictability, they can lead to performance issues, especially in large applications.

Can you explain how they affect performance?

Sure! Immutable variables can lead to increased memory usage since new copies of data are created instead of modifying existing ones.

Are there situations where using them is not recommended?

Yes, in performance-critical applications or when dealing with large datasets, mutable variables might be more efficient.

What are some alternatives to immutable variables?

Alternatives include mutable data structures or using libraries that provide controlled mutability while maintaining some benefits of immutability.