🚀 Day 9 of My Python Learning Journey

#python

Understanding the Differences Between List, Tuple, Set, and Dictionary

After completing Python’s core data structures, I decided to summarize the main differences between them. These are the building blocks of Python, and knowing when to use each makes a big difference in writing clean & efficient code.

🔹 1. List
• Ordered
• Mutable (can change after creation)
• Allows duplicates
• Best for collections that need modification

my_list = [1, 2, 2, 3]
my_list.append(4)
print(my_list) # [1, 2, 2, 3, 4]

🔹 2. Tuple
• Ordered
• Immutable (cannot be changed after creation)
• Allows duplicates
• Best for fixed collections (e.g., coordinates, settings)

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
print(my_tuple[0]) # 1

🔹 3. Set
• Unordered
• Mutable (can add/remove items)
• No duplicates
• Best for uniqueness, filtering, and set operations

my_set = {1, 2, 2, 3}
print(my_set) # {1, 2, 3}

🔹 4. Dictionary
• Unordered (Python 3.7+ keeps insertion order)
• Mutable
• Key-Value pairs
• Keys must be unique, values can repeat
• Best for fast lookups and mappings

my_dict = {"name": "Alice", "age": 25}
print(my_dict["name"]) # Alice

Feature	List	Tuple	Set	Dictionary
Ordered	✅	✅	❌	✅ (insertion order)
Mutable	✅	❌	✅	✅
Duplicates	✅	✅	❌	Keys ❌, Values ✅
Use Case	Dynamic collection	Fixed collection	Unique items	Key-value mapping

✨ Reflection
Understanding these four data structures has given me a strong foundation in Python. Now I can choose the right structure for the right problem, which is crucial in data analytics and real-world programming.

Next up → I’ll start exploring Python libraries that make coding even more powerful. 🚀