How can I implement an iterative factorial function in Python?

How can I implement an iterative factorial function in Python?

You can implement an iterative factorial function using a simple loop. Here's an example:

def iterative_factorial(n):
    result = 1
    for i in range(2, n + 1):
        result *= i
    return result

Can you explain how this function works?

Sure! The function initializes a variable result to 1. It then loops from 2 to n, multiplying result by each number in that range. Finally, it returns the computed factorial.

What if I want to handle negative numbers?

You can add a check at the beginning of the function to return 1 for negative inputs, as factorials are not defined for them. Here's an updated version:

def iterative_factorial(n):
    if n < 0:
        return 1
    result = 1
    for i in range(2, n + 1):
        result *= i
    return result

Is there a way to optimize this function?

For large values of n, you might consider using memoization or even using Python's built-in math.factorial() for better performance.