Python Lists: Comprehension vs. Map

What's the difference between list comprehensions and the map function in Python?

List comprehensions provide a concise way to create lists, while map applies a function to all items in an iterable.

Can you give me an example of both?

Sure! For list comprehension: [x**2 for x in range(5)] gives [0, 1, 4, 9, 16]. For map: list(map(lambda x: x**2, range(5))) also gives [0, 1, 4, 9, 16].

Which one is more efficient?

List comprehensions are generally faster and more readable for simple operations, while map can be more efficient for complex functions.

When should I use one over the other?

Use list comprehensions for readability and simple transformations, and map for applying functions to iterables when performance is critical.