How do iterators affect memory usage in programming?

How do iterators affect memory usage in programming?

Iterators can significantly reduce memory usage by allowing you to process elements one at a time instead of loading entire collections into memory.

Can you explain how that works in Python?

In Python, iterators use the __iter__() and __next__() methods, enabling lazy evaluation, which means values are generated on-the-fly.

What are the advantages of using iterators over lists?

The main advantages include lower memory consumption, improved performance for large datasets, and the ability to work with infinite sequences.

Are there any downsides to using iterators?

Yes, iterators can be less intuitive to use, and once consumed, they cannot be reused unless explicitly recreated.