What are the performance differences between sets and frozensets in Python?

What are the performance differences between sets and frozensets in Python?

Sets and frozensets in Python both store unique elements, but they have different performance characteristics. Sets are mutable, allowing for dynamic changes, while frozensets are immutable, which can lead to faster performance in certain scenarios.

Can you give me an example of when to use a frozenset instead of a set?

Sure! Use a frozenset when you need a constant collection of unique elements, like keys in a dictionary, where immutability is required.

Are there any specific operations where one is significantly faster than the other?

Yes, frozensets can be faster for membership tests and set operations like unions and intersections due to their immutability, which allows for optimizations.

What about memory usage? Is there a difference?

Frozensets generally use less memory than sets because they don't need to store additional information for mutability, making them more efficient for large collections.