What are Python's collections.abc module and its uses?

What is the collections.abc module in Python?

The collections.abc module provides abstract base classes for container data types in Python, like Iterable and Mapping.

How can I use collections.abc to create a custom container?

You can subclass one of the abstract base classes, like MutableMapping, and implement the required methods to create a custom container.

Can you give me an example of a custom container using collections.abc?

Sure! Here's a simple example of a custom dictionary-like class using MutableMapping:

from collections.abc import MutableMapping

class MyDict(MutableMapping):
    def __init__(self):
        self.store = {}

    def __getitem__(self, key):
        return self.store[key]

    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
        self.store[key] = value

    def __delitem__(self, key):
        del self.store[key]

    def __iter__(self):
        return iter(self.store)

    def __len__(self):
        return len(self.store)

What are the benefits of using abstract base classes?

Using abstract base classes helps ensure that your custom containers adhere to a specific interface, promoting consistency and interoperability.