The word "Iterable" is spelled with three syllables, pronounced as /ˈɪtərəbəl/. The first syllable "it" is pronounced as the short "i" sound /ɪ/. The second syllable "er" is pronounced as the schwa sound /ə/. The third syllable "able" is pronounced as the long "a" sound /eɪ/ followed by the consonant sound /b/. This term is commonly used in computer programming to refer to objects or data structures that can be iterated or looped through. Its correct spelling is important for accurate communication in this technical field.
An iterable is a term used in computer programming and refers to an object that can be iterated or looped over. It is synonymous with the concept of being traversable or having the ability to be accessed sequentially.
Specifically, an iterable is an entity that implements the iteration protocol, which means it provides a method called `__iter__()` that returns an iterator object. The iterator object is responsible for generating and returning values one at a time when a loop is executed or an iterator function like `next()` is called. This allows programmers to process each item within the iterable sequentially without needing to explicitly handle the underlying implementation details.
Iterables can take on various forms, such as lists, tuples, strings, dictionaries, sets, and even custom objects. They allow for efficient, uniform access to the elements contained within them.
The concept of iteration is fundamental in programming, as it enables programmers to perform repetitive operations on collections of data. By using iterables, developers can write concise and modular code that easily handles data processing tasks.
Overall, an iterable can be thought of as a container-like entity that provides ordered access to its elements, allowing for the utilization of loops and other iteration mechanisms to operate on the contained data efficiently.
The word "iterable" comes from the Latin term "iterabilis", which is derived from the verb "iterare", meaning "to repeat" or "to make again". The term "iterabilis" essentially means "able to be repeated" or "capable of repetition". This Latin root has been adapted into English to refer to objects or data structures that can be iterated or looped over, such as arrays, lists, or other sequences.