How do I choose the right data structure in Python?

How do I choose the right data structure in Python?

Choosing the right data structure depends on your specific needs. Are you looking for speed, memory efficiency, or ease of use?

I need something that allows fast lookups and insertions.

In that case, you might want to consider using a dictionary. It provides average O(1) time complexity for lookups and insertions.

What about when I need to maintain order?

If maintaining order is important, you can use an OrderedDict from the collections module, which preserves the order of items.

Are there any other options?

Yes, you could also use lists if you need to maintain order, but keep in mind that lookups will be O(n) in that case.