lec10.md

Introduction to Python

Learning Objectives

• describe which containers are mutable and which are immutable
• use methods from each container type to efficiently manipulate a list
• identify a specific use case for each container type

Textbook

Chapter 3, pages 65-75

Activities

1. mutability

2. duck typing

3. containers - iterable

4. lists

   • notation
   • indexing & slicing like strings
     • slicing on LHS of assignment
     • del slice
   • list operators:
     • NOT mathematical arrays
   • list methods:
     • append, count, insert, remove, clear, extend, reverse, index, pop, sort
   • testing
     • devise a way to test each function
   • reference counting
   • use cases
     • order matters
     • mutable

5. tuples - immutable lists

   • notation
   • immutable structure
     • may have mutable members
   • what methods exist?
   • test how lists are different from tuples
   • use cases
     • order matters
     • immutable

6. sets - unordered lists with max one of each thing

   • notation
   • items in set must be immutable
   • test addition of things to sets vs lists
   • test methods:
     • difference vs difference_update vs symmetric_difference
   • use cases
     • collect unique list of things

7. dictionaries - powerful container type

   • notation
   • keys must be immutable
   • values can be anything - including other containers
   • explore methods
     • use what you've learned to hypothesis how they work and test those hypotheses