Differences Between tuple and list in Python#

Both tuples and lists are used to store collections of items, but they have key differences in mutability, performance, and usage.

1️⃣ Key Differences#

2️⃣ tuple (Immutable & Faster)#

A tuple is an immutable ordered collection.

1
2
3
4
5

# Creating a tuple
t = (1, 2, 3)
print(t[0])  # Output: 1

# t[0] = 5  # ❌ ERROR: Tuple is immutable

✅ Use tuples when data should not change (e.g., (latitude, longitude), configuration settings). ✅ Tuples are hashable, meaning they can be used as dictionary keys.

1
2

locations = {(40.7128, -74.0060): "New York"}
print(locations[(40.7128, -74.0060)])  # Output: New York

3️⃣ list (Mutable & Dynamic)#

A list is a mutable ordered collection.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

# Creating a list
lst = [1, 2, 3]
lst.append(4)  # ✅ Allowed: Lists are mutable
print(lst)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

lst[0] = 5
print(lst)  # Output: [5, 2, 3, 4]

✅ Use lists when the data needs to change dynamically. ✅ Supports sorting, removing, and modifying elements.

4️⃣ Performance Comparison#

Tuples are faster and use less memory because they are immutable.

1
2
3
4
5
6

import sys
lst = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
tup = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

print(sys.getsizeof(lst))  # More memory
print(sys.getsizeof(tup))  # Less memory

✅ Use tuples for better memory efficiency when data doesn’t change.

5️⃣ When to Use Which?#

Use tuples for fixed data, and lists for dynamic data!