When should I use iterators instead of generators?

When should I use iterators instead of generators?

You should use iterators when you need to maintain state across iterations and want more control over the iteration process.

Can you give me an example of an iterator?

Sure! An iterator in Python can be created using the __iter__() and __next__() methods. Here's a simple example:

class MyIterator:
    def __init__(self, limit):
        self.limit = limit
        self.current = 0
    
    def __iter__(self):
        return self
    
    def __next__(self):
        if self.current < self.limit:
            self.current += 1
            return self.current - 1
        else:
            raise StopIteration

What about generators? How are they different?

Generators are simpler to create and use the yield keyword to produce values one at a time. They automatically handle state for you, making them more memory efficient for large datasets.

Can you show me a generator example?

Absolutely! Here's a simple generator example:

def my_generator(limit):
    for i in range(limit):
        yield i

You can use it like this:

for value in my_generator(5):
    print(value)