How do Python dictionaries perform in terms of speed and memory usage?

How do Python dictionaries perform in terms of speed and memory usage?

Python dictionaries are highly optimized for performance. They offer average time complexity of O(1) for lookups, insertions, and deletions due to their underlying hash table implementation.

What factors can affect the performance of dictionaries?

Factors include the size of the dictionary, the quality of the hash function, and the load factor. A high load factor can lead to more collisions, which may slow down operations.

Are there alternatives to dictionaries in Python for better performance?

Yes, alternatives like collections.defaultdict or collections.OrderedDict can be used depending on your specific needs, but they may not always outperform standard dictionaries.

How can I measure the performance of a dictionary in my code?

You can use the time module to measure execution time for operations or use the timeit module for more accurate benchmarking.