What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

In Python, both lists and tuples are used to store collections of items, but there are key differences between them primarily related to mutability and usage. **Mutability:** - **Lists** are mutable, meaning you can change their content after creation — you can add, remove, or modify elements. - **Tuples** are immutable, so once a tuple is created, its contents cannot be altered. **Use Cases:** - Use a **list** when you need a collection that may change over time, such as when you need to append or remove items dynamically. Lists are great for tasks like maintaining a sequence of items that evolve during program execution. - Use a **tuple** when you want to ensure the data remains constant and protected from accidental modification. Tuples are often used to represent fixed collections of related data (like coordinates or RGB color values) or as keys in dictionaries because they are hashable (lists are not). **Performance and Safety:** Tuples can be slightly more memory-efficient and faster to iterate over than lists, but the difference is usually minor. The main advantage of tuples is the guarantee of immutability, which can help avoid bugs by preventing unintentional changes to data. **Summary:** Choose a list if you need a mutable, dynamic collection. Choose a tuple when you want an immutable, fixed collection of items, especially if you want to use the collection as a dictionary key or ensure the data stays unchanged.