What are the differences between Python generators and itertools?

What are the differences between Python generators and itertools?

Python generators are a way to create iterators using a function with the 'yield' statement, while itertools is a module that provides a collection of tools for creating and working with iterators.

Can you give me an example of a generator?

Sure! Here's a simple generator that yields squares of numbers:

def square_generator(n):
    for i in range(n):
        yield i ** 2

You can use it like this:

for square in square_generator(5):
    print(square)

How does itertools compare in terms of performance?

It depends on the use case. Generally, itertools can be more memory efficient for large datasets since it uses functions that return iterators instead of lists. However, generators can be simpler to implement for specific tasks.

When should I use one over the other?

Use generators when you need a simple, custom iterator for a specific task. Use itertools when you need to perform complex operations on iterators or when working with large datasets.