What are the advantages of using iterator patterns in programming?

What are the advantages of using iterator patterns in programming?

Iterator patterns provide a way to access elements of a collection without exposing its underlying representation. This promotes encapsulation.

Can you explain how it improves code readability?

By using iterators, you can separate the logic of traversing a collection from the collection itself, making the code cleaner and easier to understand.

Are there any performance benefits?

Yes, iterators can improve performance by allowing lazy evaluation, meaning elements are processed only when needed, reducing memory usage.

What about flexibility in data structures?

Iterators allow you to work with different data structures uniformly, enabling you to switch implementations without changing the traversal code.

Can you give an example of where this pattern is used?

A common example is in collections like lists or trees, where iterators allow you to traverse elements without knowing the internal structure.