What Is Data Structure in Python W3schools?

Data structures are an essential part of programming in Python. They allow us to store and organize data in a way that makes it easier to access and manipulate. In this tutorial, we will explore the different data structures available in Python and learn how to use them effectively.

Lists

A list is a versatile data structure that can hold multiple values of different types. It is denoted by square brackets [] and elements are separated by commas. Lists are mutable, meaning their elements can be changed.

To create a list in Python, you can simply assign values to a variable:

my_list = [1, 2, 3, "four", "five"]

You can access elements of a list using indexing. Python uses zero-based indexing, so the first element has an index of 0:

print(my_list[0]) # Output: 1

Tuples

A tuple is similar to a list but is immutable, meaning its elements cannot be changed once assigned. Tuples are denoted by parentheses () and elements are separated by commas.

To create a tuple:

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)

You can access elements of a tuple using indexing just like lists:

print(my_tuple[1]) # Output: 2

Dictionaries

A dictionary is an unordered collection of key-value pairs. It allows you to store and retrieve values based on their associated keys. Dictionaries are denoted by curly braces {}.

To create a dictionary:

my_dict = {"name": "John", "age": 25, "city": "New York"}

You can access values in a dictionary using their keys:

print(my_dict["name"]) # Output: John

Sets

A set is an unordered collection of unique elements. Sets are useful when you want to eliminate duplicates or perform mathematical operations such as union, intersection, and difference. Sets are denoted by curly braces {}.

To create a set:

my_set = {1, 2, 2, 3, 4}

You can perform various operations on sets like adding elements or checking for membership:

my_set.add(5)
print(5 in my_set) # Output: True

Conclusion

Data structures are crucial in Python programming for efficient data manipulation. Lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets provide different ways to store and organize data based on our requirements. By understanding these data structures and their operations, we can write more efficient and organized Python code.

• We learned about lists and how to access their elements using indexing.
• We explored tuples and their immutability.
• We discovered dictionaries and how to retrieve values using keys.
• We delved into sets and their unique element properties.

Now that you have a good understanding of data structures in Python, you can apply this knowledge to solve complex programming problems and optimize your code.