What is the impact of mutability on data structures?

What is the impact of mutability on data structures?

Mutability refers to the ability of an object to be changed after it is created. In data structures, this can affect performance, memory usage, and how data is accessed and modified.

Can you give an example of a mutable and an immutable data structure?

Sure! An example of a mutable data structure is a list in Python, where you can add or remove elements. An immutable data structure is a tuple, which cannot be changed once created.

How does mutability affect performance?

Mutable data structures can be more efficient for frequent updates, as they allow in-place modifications. However, they may lead to unintended side effects if shared across different parts of a program.

Are there any scenarios where immutability is preferred?

Yes, immutability is preferred in functional programming and concurrent applications, as it helps avoid side effects and makes reasoning about code easier.