Generators in Python

October 5, 2023

Generators in Python

Python, a versatile and widely-used programming language, offers a unique tool known as generators. Generators provide a clever way to work with large datasets, making your code more memory-efficient and responsive.

Python Generators

Generators are a type of iterable, like lists and tuples, but with a significant difference. While lists store all their values in memory, generators produce values on the fly, saving memory resources. In essence, generators are lazy iterators that generate values one at a time, making them ideal for processing large datasets efficiently.

Creating a Generator Function

To create a generator, you define a function with the yield keyword.

Example:

def simple_generator():
yield 1
yield 2
yield 3

Code for Simple Generator Function :

Run

def simple_generator():
    yield 1
    yield 2
    yield 3

# Using the generator
gen = simple_generator()
for value in gen:
    print(value)

Output :

1
2
3

Use Cases for Generators

Generators are incredibly useful in scenarios where memory efficiency is crucial. Some common use cases include reading large files, generating infinite sequences, and processing data streams.

Advantages of Generators

Generators have several advantages:

They save memory by producing values on-the-fly.
They can represent infinite sequences.
They allow for more readable and efficient code.
They support pipelining and chaining operations.

Let’s see an example of an infinite generator that generates even numbers

Run

def infinite_even_generator():
    n = 0
    while True:
        yield n
        n += 2

# Using the infinite generator
gen = infinite_even_generator()
for _ in range(5):
    print(next(gen))

Output :

Generators in Python provide a powerful mechanism for efficient and memory-friendly data processing. By generating values lazily, they allow you to work with large datasets without straining your system’s resources. Embrace the power of generators to write more efficient and responsive Python code.

Lists in Python

Deleting items from sorted list

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Python String split() Method

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Generators in Python