Heapq vs List: Which is Better for Your Use Case?

What's the difference between using heapq and a list in Python?

Heapq is a binary heap implementation, which allows for efficient priority queue operations, while a list is a simple array.

When should I use heapq instead of a regular list?

Use heapq when you need to frequently access the smallest element or perform priority queue operations, as it's more efficient.

Can you give me an example of how to use heapq?

Sure! You can use heapq.heappush() to add elements and heapq.heappop() to remove the smallest element from the heap.

Are there any downsides to using heapq?

Yes, heapq has a higher overhead for random access compared to lists, so if you need frequent access to elements by index, lists may be better.