What are the performance implications of using iterators in programming?

What are the performance implications of using iterators in programming?

Using iterators can improve performance by reducing memory usage and allowing for lazy evaluation, but it depends on the context.

Can you explain lazy evaluation and how it relates to iterators?

Lazy evaluation means that values are computed only when needed, which can lead to performance gains by avoiding unnecessary calculations.

Are there any scenarios where using iterators might be less efficient?

Yes, if you're frequently accessing elements randomly, iterators may introduce overhead compared to direct indexing.

How do iterators compare to other data structures in terms of performance?

Iterators can be more efficient for sequential access, but data structures like arrays or lists may perform better for random access.