What is the difference between array and list data structures in Python?

In Python, "array" usually refers to a structure from the array module or numpy.array, while "list" refers to the built-in list type.

Main differences:

• Element types:

  • list can contain elements of different types.
  • array from the array module contains elements of a single type (e.g., only integers).

• Performance and memory:

  • array is more efficient in memory and speed when working with large homogeneous data.
  • list is more versatile but less efficient.

• Functionality:

  • list supports many operations and is convenient for general programming.
  • array has limited functionality but is suitable for numerical computations.

Example:

import array

# list with different types
lst = [1, 'two', 3.0]

# array with only integers
arr = array.array('i', [1, 2, 3])

print(lst)  # [1, 'two', 3.0]
print(arr)  # array('i', [1, 2, 3])