The only differences are that tuples are immutable and that lists have extra methods.
Is there ever a strong need for list-type data to be immutable? Evough to justify a whole extra data-type in the language?
Should they release a python 4 with it removed?
The only thing I can think of is as a default function parameter. This function is okay:
def dothings(a=(1,2)):
print(a)
a = (a[0], 3)
But this function misbehaves the second time it is called:
def dothings(a=[1,2]):
print(a)
a[1] = 3
But IMO the “mutable arguments” thing is another bug to be fixed in a hypothetical python 4. And even in python 3 you just write the function the recommended way, so there is not such a big problem.
def dothings(a=None):
if a is None:
a = [1, 2]
print(a)
a[1] = 3
The Python devs are clever guys though. There must be some really important reason to maintain both types?
Don’t really know python but i think your lists are quite performance heavy because of all the features, while tuples are closer to arrays in a language like java, and are simple memory blocks that can be worked with much faster. Don’t take my word for it though :P
This could be the right answer. I know tuples use slightly less memory. But I’m not if that’s so important. I don’t think programs ever need to iterate over 1 million tuple entries, where speed or memory would be important.