How to distinguish a dictionary from a list in implementation and usage?

A dictionary (dict) and a list (list) in Python differ in structure and usage:

• Dictionary (dict): stores key-value pairs. Keys are unique and used for quick access to values. The order of elements in modern Python versions is preserved, but its main purpose is an associative array.

• List (list): an ordered collection of elements, accessed by index. Allows duplicates and changing order.

Example:

# Dictionary
person = {'name': 'Ivan', 'age': 30}
print(person['name'])  # access by key

# List
numbers = [10, 20, 30]
print(numbers[1])  # access by index

Use a dictionary when you need to store data with unique keys and quickly retrieve values by them. A list is suitable for ordered collections where order matters and duplicates are allowed.