What are the performance differences between iterators and lists in Python?

What are the performance differences between iterators and lists in Python?

Iterators are generally more memory efficient than lists because they generate items on the fly, while lists store all items in memory.

Can you explain why iterators are more memory efficient?

Sure! Iterators yield one item at a time, so they don't require the entire dataset to be loaded into memory, unlike lists.

Are there any performance trade-offs when using iterators?

Yes, while iterators save memory, they can be slower for random access since you have to iterate through items sequentially.

When should I use lists instead of iterators?

Use lists when you need fast random access or when you need to store and manipulate the entire dataset at once.