Python iterators

Problem:Explain the concept of iterators in Python. Describe how iterators work, how to create custom iterators using the iter ( ) and next ( ) functions, and how to use iterators in for loops. Provide examples to illustrate the usage of iterators in Python programming.

Solution: Iterators in Python: An iterator in Python is an object that represents a stream of data. It allows you to iterate ( loop ) over a collection, sequence, or stream of values one at a time. The basic idea of an iterator is to provide a way to access elements of a collection sequentially without exposing the underlying details of the collection's data structure.

Working with Iterators:

In Python, the following terms and functions are associated with iterators:

lterable:

An ob j ect capable of returning its elements one at a time. Examples of iterables include lists, tuples, strings, dictionaries, and more.

Iterator:

An ob j ect that represents the stream of data from an iterable. It has two primary methods: __iter__() and __next__( ).

• __iter__(): Returns the iterator object itself.

• __next__(): Returns the next element from the iterator. If there are no more elements, it raises the Stoplteration exception.

Example of Using Built-in Iterators:

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4 , 5]

# Create an iterator from the list
iterator = iter(my_list)

# Use the iterator to retrieve elements 
print (next(iterator) ) # Output : 1 
print (next(iterator) ) # Output : 2

Python iterators