Iterators are objects that can be used in “for” loops from "summary" of Fluent Python by Luciano Ramalho
Iterators are objects that implement the iterator protocol, which consists of the `__iter__` method that returns the iterator object itself and the `__next__` method that returns the next element from a sequence. When there are no more elements to return, it raises the `StopIteration` exception. Any Python sequence is iterable because it implements the `__iter__` method. When you use a `for` loop in Python, the interpreter calls `iter()` on the container object. The `iter()` function checks if the object implements `__iter__`, and if not, tries to access the `__getitem__` method. If that also fails, Python raises a `TypeError`, indicating that the object is not iterable. This mechanism allows any Python object to be used in a `for` loop as long as it implements the iterator protocol. The `for` loop implicitly calls the `next()` function to retrieve each item from the iterator. When the `StopIteration` exception is raised, the loop terminates silently. This behavior is what makes Python’s `for` loop so powerful and versatile. It can iterate over any object that follows the iterator protocol, not just sequences. This flexibility allows you to use Python’s `for` loop in many different situations, making your code more concise and readable. In Python, iterators are everywhere, from built-in types like lists and tuples to custom objects that implement the iterator protocol. Understanding iterators is essential for writing Pythonic code that is clear, concise, and efficient. By leveraging the power of iterators, you can simplify your code, making it easier to read and maintain. So next time you use a `for` loop in Python, remember that you are actually using an iterator behind the scenes, iterating over the elements of a sequence or any other object that implements the iterator protocol.
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