Difference Between List, Tuple, Set and Dictionary in Python

What is a List in Python?

A list is a collection of ordered elements. Lists can be of different data types such as integers, floats, strings etc. Various operations, such as adding or removing elements or searching, and sorting for element,s can be performed in a list in Python.

Implementation

• Python

Python

# Create a list of numbers
Python_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# Change an item in the list by index
Python_list[2] = 6

# Add an item to the end of the list
Python_list.append(7)

# Remove an item from the list by value
Python_list.remove(4)
   
# Print the list
print(Python_list) 

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Output

Explanation

In the code, we initialized a list [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] and performed operations first. We changed the third element to 6 and then appended 7 to the end of the list, and finally removed element 4 from the list.

Applications of List

• Lists can be used to store and access sequential data.
• We can modify elements in a List because Lists are mutable.

What is Tuple in Python?

A tuple is a sequence of elements separated by commas and enclosed in parentheses. Tuples are similar to lists, but they cannot be modified once created. This means that you cannot add, remove or modify elements of a tuple.

Implementation

• Python

Python

# Create a list of numbers
Python_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

# Print first three elements of tuple
print(Python_tuple[:3])

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Output

Explanation

In the above code, we have implemented a tuple (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and we print the first three elements in the tuple i.e., (1, 2, 3).

Let’s try deleting from the tuple. 

• Python

Python

# Deleting a tuple
tuple_del = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

# Delete tuple using del
del tuple_del
print(tuple_del)

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Output

Explanation

In the above code we have implemented a tuple (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and we delete the tuple using ‘del’. Therefore we get an error as the tuple does not exist.

Applications of Tuple

• Unlike Lists, Tuples are immutable and can be used to store dictionary keys.
• Tuples can return multiple values from a function, such as you can use a tuple to return minimum and maximum values from a list. 

What is Python Set?

A set is a built-in data structure in Python that represents a collection of unique elements. We can perform different operations on sets, such as union, intersection, difference, and symmetric difference.

Implementation

• Python

Python

# Initialize two sets
set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = {2, 3, 4}

# Get the union of the two sets 
union_set = set1 | set2
print("Union of the two sets is:",union_set)

# Get the intersection of the two sets 
intersection_set = set1 & set2
print("Intersection of the two sets is:",intersection_set)

# Get the difference of the two sets 
difference_set = set1 - set2
print("Difference of the two sets is:",difference_set)

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Output

Explanation

In the above code, we have implemented two sets where set1 is {1, 2, 3} and set2 is {2, 3, 4} and performed operations such as the union of the two sets i.e., {1, 2, 3, 4}, the intersection of the two sets i.e., {2, 3} and difference on the two sets i.e., {1}.

Applications

• Sets can be used to perform various operations such as union, intersection and difference.
• Sets can be used to remove duplicates from a list.

What is a Dictionary in Python?

A dictionary in Python is a collection of key-value pairs, where each key is unique and associated with a value. We can change the values of a dictionary. They are useful for storing and accessing data.

Implementation

• Python

Python

# Create a dictionary with some key-value pairs
countries = {"India": "New Delhi", "Australia": "Canberra", "Japan": "Tokyo"}

# Print the dictionary
print(countries['India'])
print(countries['Australia'])
print(countries['Japan'])

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Output

Explanation

In the above code we have implemented a dictionary where the country names are the key {India, Australia, Japan} and the capitals are their values {New Delhi, Canberra, Tokyo}.

Applications of Dictionary

• Dictionaries can be used to store key-value pairs.
• Dictionaries are also useful for counting the frequency of elements in a list.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How can we concatenate two lists?

It is very easy to concatenate two lists using the + operator or extend() method.

Can we have duplicate elements in a set?

No, a set cannot contain duplicate elements. It only stores unique elements. 

Which is the faster list or set?

It depends on the use case. Lists are faster when we need to access elements using their index, while sets are faster when we need to check for the existence of an element.

Can you modify a tuple after it has been created?

No, tuples are immutable and cannot be modified after they are created.

Can a dictionary have multiple values for the same key?

No, each key in a dictionary can only have one associated value.

Conclusion

In conclusion, lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries are core data structures in Python, each serving different purposes. Understanding their differences in mutability, ordering, and usage helps developers choose the right one for efficient problem-solving.

Recommended Readings:

• Lists vs Tuples
• Dictionary and sets
• Fibonacci Series in Python
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