What is the difference between Range() and Xrange() in Python?
The Range() or Xrange() functions in Python can be used in many parts of the program. They help to reduce the size of code and improve its readability.
First, let’s discuss the Range() method and its syntax. We will then elaborate on the Xrange() method.
Range () vs Xrange ()
Attributes | Range() | Xrange() |
Parameters | Numerical Values | Numerical Values |
Return type | It gives a list of integers | It gives a generator object |
Memory Utilization | It gives a list of elements and takes more memory | It takes less memory less range () |
Efficiency | Its execution time is slow | Its execution time is fast |
Range() method
This method accepts only positive and negative integers. It does not support floating point or string/character values.
Signatures
range(stop_value)
range(start_value, stop_value)
range(start_value, stop_value, jump_size)
Parameters
The Range() method accepts a single argument. It can accept, at maximum, up to three values as an argument.
stop_value: Condition to stop the execution.
Keep in mind that the returned list does not include
stop_value.
start_value: Defines the starting value where execution will begin. Default = 0.jump_size: Defines the jump size it will take when execution starts. Default = 1.
Return value
Range object: The function returns a list or sequence of numbers.
Example code
In the following example, the Range() method will generate 10 numbers from 0,1...9. The code snippet below prints these n=10 values, separated by commas, on Line 4 as an argument to the print() function.
# First Variant of Range() function# it only accepts single value and return a listfor n in range (10):print("Iteration#", n)
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range(stop_value)
In the next example, we print the first 10 numbers, starting from 0 to 9.
In the function, we give the range() function for the same (with a comma at the end) as parameters to print out. The function will also check what type it returns n = range (10) – > type (n).
# First Variant of Range() function# it only accepts single value and return a listfor n in range (10):print (n)print('\n')
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range(start_value, stop_value)
In the next example, we print the numbers from 22 to 33. This time, however, we use the reversed() method of Python.
We have provided the value in the range() function for these numbers (with a comma at the end) as parameters to print out. The starting value is 22 and the stopping value is 33.
# starting value = 22# Stopping value = 33for n in reversed (range (22,33)):print (n, end= ',')
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range(start_value, stop_value, jump_size)
In the next example, we print the values from 0 to 10 in reverse order. We give the value in the range function in the form of start, stop, and end.
# reverse prirting with Step = -1# Will generate 10 numbers: 0 to 10for n in range (10, 0,-1):print (n, end= ',')
Xrange() method
The Xrange() function is similar to rangexrange.
The syntax of Xrange() is the same as Range(), which means we still have to specify start, stop, and step values.
The
Xrangemethod was deprecated in Python 3 but is available for older versions, such as Python 2.x. If you execute a program usingXrangein Python 3, it will return an error becauseRange()is used from this version onwards.
Signature
Xrange(stop_value)//only accepts stopping condition
Xrange(start_value, stop_value)//accepts starting and stoping value
Xrange(start_value,stop_value,jump_size)//takes starting, stoping, step size
Parameters
The Xrange() method accepts a single argument. It can accept, at maximum, up to three values as an argument.
stop_value: Condition to stop the execution.start_value: Defines starting value where we will begin.jump_size: Defines jump size we will take when execution begins.
Return value
Xrange object: It returns an iterable object, which can be iterated multiple times to extract values.
Xrange()returns aniterableobject, not an iterator. These are different concepts. You can get the behavior of an iterable by using:numbers = iter(xrange(10)).
Example code
This code snippet shows how Xrange() works. On lines 3 and 7, we use its two different variants.
# Using range() methodprint("range(10,30,2) called")for n in range(10,30,2):print(n)# showing Xrange() results on console# Xrange() method taking 3 parametersprint("Xrange(10,30,2) called")for p in xrange(10,30,2):print(p)# showing Xrange() results on console# Xrange() method taking 2 parametersprint("Xrange(11,20) called")for p in xrange(11,20):print(p)
