Introduction
Hello coders! Welcome back to our Python series on CipherTrick.com. Today we are going to take a comprehensive look at Python’s built-in data structures. Python provides a variety of data structures including lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries. Understanding these data structures and knowing when to use them can greatly enhance your efficiency as a Python developer.
Part 1: Lists
Lists in Python are ordered collections of items that are mutable, meaning they can be changed. Lists are defined by enclosing a comma-separated sequence of objects in square brackets [].
my_list = [1, 'hello', 3.14, True]
Lists are versatile and can be indexed, sliced, and modified. They can also contain items of different types.
Part 2: Tuples
Tuples are similar to lists in that they can contain multiple items of different types. However, tuples are immutable, meaning that once they’re created, they cannot be changed. Tuples are defined by enclosing a comma-separated sequence of objects in parentheses ().
my_tuple = (1, 'hello', 3.14, True)
Since tuples are immutable, they are often used for data that should not be changed.
Part 3: Sets
Sets are an unordered collection of unique items. They are defined by enclosing a comma-separated sequence of objects in curly braces {} or by using the built-in set() function.
my_set = {1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4}
In the above code, my_set will be {1, 2, 3, 4} because sets only allow unique items.
Part 4: Dictionaries
Dictionaries, or ‘dicts’ for short, are a collection of key-value pairs. They are mutable and unordered. Dictionaries are defined by enclosing a comma-separated list of key-value pairs in curly braces {}. The pairs are separated by a colon :.
my_dict = {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 25, 'gender': 'female'}
In this dictionary, ‘name’, ‘age’, and ‘gender’ are the keys, and ‘Alice’, 25, and ‘female’ are their respective values.
Conclusion
Python’s built-in data structures are powerful tools that can handle a wide range of data storage and manipulation tasks. Understanding the properties of lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries will allow you to choose the right tool for your specific needs. In our next tutorial, we will discuss functions in Python. Until then, keep practicing and happy coding!