What is a deque in Python and how do I use it?

What is a deque in Python and how do I use it?

A deque, or double-ended queue, is a data structure from the collections module that allows you to add or remove elements from both ends efficiently.

Can you show me some examples of how to use a deque?

Sure! You can create a deque using from collections import deque. Here's a simple example:

from collections import deque

# Create a deque
my_deque = deque([1, 2, 3])

# Add elements to the right
my_deque.append(4)

# Add elements to the left
my_deque.appendleft(0)

# Remove elements from the right
my_deque.pop()

# Remove elements from the left
my_deque.popleft()

What are the advantages of using a deque over a list?

Deques are optimized for fast fixed-time appends and pops from both ends, while lists are slower for these operations, especially for large datasets.

Are there any limitations to using a deque?

While deques are very efficient for adding and removing elements, they do not support random access like lists do, which can be a limitation depending on your use case.