What are the differences between iterators and loops in Python?

What are the differences between iterators and loops in Python?

In Python, loops are used to iterate over a sequence, while iterators are objects that allow you to traverse through a collection without exposing the underlying structure.

Can you give me an example of an iterator?

Sure! An example of an iterator is the iter() function, which converts a list into an iterator. You can then use the next() function to access elements one by one.

How do loops work in Python?

Loops in Python, like for and while, repeatedly execute a block of code as long as a condition is true or until the sequence is exhausted.

When should I use an iterator instead of a loop?

Use an iterator when you want to traverse a collection without needing to load the entire collection into memory, which is more efficient for large datasets.