How does the performance of dictionaries in Python's collections module compare?

How does the performance of dictionaries in Python's collections module compare to lists?

Dictionaries in Python are implemented as hash tables, which provide average-case O(1) time complexity for lookups, insertions, and deletions. In contrast, lists have O(n) time complexity for lookups since they require a linear search.

Are there any specific scenarios where I should prefer using a dictionary over a list?

Yes, if you need to associate keys with values or require fast lookups, dictionaries are preferable. Lists are better for ordered collections where you need to maintain the sequence.

What about memory usage? Are dictionaries more memory-intensive than lists?

Yes, dictionaries generally use more memory than lists due to the overhead of storing key-value pairs and the hash table structure.

Can you give me an example of when to use a dictionary?

Sure! If you're building a phone book where you need to quickly look up a person's phone number by their name, a dictionary would be ideal.