Which of the following data structures in Python is immutable and orde...
Tuples are immutable and ordered, meaning their elements cannot be changed after creation and they maintain the order of insertion.
Which of the following data structures in Python is immutable and orde...
Immutable and Ordered Data Structure in Python:
In Python, there are several built-in data structures that can be used to store and manipulate collections of data. Each data structure has its own characteristics and properties. The question asks for the data structure that is both immutable and ordered among the given options.
Immutable Data Structure:
An immutable data structure is one that cannot be modified once it is created. In Python, some data structures like lists and dictionaries are mutable, meaning their elements can be changed or modified after they are created. On the other hand, immutable data structures like tuples and strings cannot be modified once they are created. Any attempt to modify an immutable data structure will result in the creation of a new object.
Ordered Data Structure:
An ordered data structure is one that preserves the order of its elements. In Python, the order of elements in a data structure can be significant. For example, in a list, the order of elements is maintained and can be accessed using indices. On the other hand, in a set or dictionary, the order of elements is not guaranteed and may vary.
Tuple:
The correct answer to the question is option 'B' - Tuple. A tuple is an immutable and ordered data structure in Python. It is created by enclosing comma-separated values within parentheses. The elements of a tuple can be accessed using indices and the order of elements is preserved.
Advantages of Tuples:
- Immutable: Tuples are useful when you want to store a collection of values that should not be modified.
- Ordered: The order of elements in a tuple is maintained, allowing for easy access and retrieval of specific elements.
- Efficient: Tuples are more memory-efficient than lists because they use less memory.
- Can be used as keys in dictionaries: Tuples can be used as dictionary keys because they are immutable.
Example:
```python
# Creating a tuple
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
# Accessing elements
print(my_tuple[0]) # Output: 1
# Attempting to modify a tuple (will raise an error)
my_tuple[0] = 10 # Raises TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment
```
In the given options, only the tuple satisfies both the criteria of being immutable and ordered. Lists are mutable, sets are unordered, and dictionaries are unordered collections of key-value pairs.