What is the difference between list and tuple?

In Python, both lists and tuples are sequence data types, but they have some key differences:

1. Mutability:
   • Lists are mutable, meaning you can change their elements, add new elements, remove elements, or modify existing elements after the list has been created.
   • Tuples are immutable, meaning once they are created, you cannot change, add, or remove elements from them.
2. Syntax:
   • Lists are created using square brackets [ ].
   • Tuples are created using parentheses ( ).
3. Performance:
   • Due to their mutability, lists generally consume more memory and have slower performance for certain operations compared to tuples, especially when dealing with large datasets. Tuples, being immutable, are more memory-efficient and can be faster in some scenarios.
4. Use cases:
   • Lists are typically used when you have a collection of items that may need to be modified, reordered, or extended.
   • Tuples are often used when you have a collection of items that should remain constant throughout the program’s execution, such as coordinates, database records, or configurations.
5. Iteration:
   • Both lists and tuples can be iterated over using loops or comprehensions, but since tuples are immutable, iterating over them can be slightly faster than iterating over lists.

In summary, use lists when you need a mutable collection of items, and use tuples when you need an immutable collection of items that won’t change during the program’s execution.