Python has multiple data structures like Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries, Sets, and more. Some of them are Ordered and some are Unordered. This article will discuss Ordered Vs Unordered Data Structures in Python.
Lists
It is a collection of a mutable ordered sequence of elements and can be accessed through indexing and defined inside []. Each element inside a List is called an item.
From the above example, it is clear that the list maintains a sequence in which elements are inserted. So, it is an ordered data structure in python.
Tuples
It is a collection of immutable ordered elements, which follows a sequence in which elements are inserted. It is defined inside () and accessed through indexing.
The above example shows that Tuples are ordered data structure and follow the sequence of insertion.
Dictionaries
Collection of items, in which items are defined as key-value pair in {}. Dictionaries are ordered data structures in python. It can be accessed through a specific key.
Each key is separated from its value by a colon (:), the items are separated by commas. Keys in a dictionary must be immutable data types. However, values can be of any type.
From the above example, it is clear that the dictionary in python is ordered data structures.
*As of Python version 3.7, dictionaries are ordered. In Python 3.6 and earlier, dictionaries are unordered.
Sets
Set is a python collection that is immutable, unordered, and unindexed. No duplicate members. It is defined inside {}.
As you can see from the above example that sets in python are unordered data structures.
When choosing a collection type in python, it is useful to understand the properties of that type.
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