What are the differences between iterators and arrays in programming?

What are the differences between iterators and arrays in programming?

Iterators are objects that allow you to traverse through a collection, like an array, without exposing the underlying structure. Arrays are data structures that store elements in a contiguous block of memory.

Can you give me an example of how to use an iterator?

Sure! In JavaScript, you can use the for...of loop to iterate over an array. For example: const arr = [1, 2, 3]; for (const num of arr) { console.log(num); }.

What are the advantages of using iterators over arrays?

Iterators provide a more flexible way to traverse data structures, allowing for lazy evaluation and the ability to work with infinite sequences, which arrays cannot handle.

Are there any performance differences between using iterators and arrays?

Yes, iterators can be more memory efficient since they don't require loading the entire collection into memory at once, while arrays do.