Map vs List comprehension - Python Last Updated : 29 Jan, 2025 Summarize Comments Improve Suggest changes Share Like Article Like Report List comprehension and map() both transform iterables but differ in syntax and performance. List comprehension is concise as the logic is applied in one line while map() applies a function to each item and returns an iterator and offering better memory efficiency for large datasets.List comprehensionList comprehension is a simple way to create new lists by applying transformations or filtering elements from an existing iterable. It is concise, readable, and ideal for simple operations. Python # Doubling each number in `li` li = [1, 2, 3, 4] res = [x * 2 for x in li] print(res) Output[2, 4, 6, 8] Explanation: [x * 2 for x in numbers] iterates through each item in li. and x * 2 applies the transformation to each element.map() in python map() function applies a specified function to each element of an iterable and producing a map object. The result can be converted to a list, tuple or other data structures if needed. Python # Doubling each number in `li` li = [1, 2, 3, 4] res = map(lambda x: x * 2, li) print(list(res)) Output[2, 4, 6, 8] Explanation:lambda x: x * 2 function that doubles the element.map(lambda x: x * 2, numbers) applies the lambda function to each element in numbers.list(result) converts the map object to a list.Difference between Map and List ComprehensionHere are some key differences between map and list comprehension.FeatureList ComprehensionMap FunctionSyntaxConcise and readable for simple transformations.Requires a function or lambda as the first argument.ReadabilityEasy to read and understand for simple logic.Can become complex with lambdas for simple tasks.Output TypeDirectly produces a list.Returns an iterator (needs to be converted to a list).PerformanceSlightly slower for pre-defined functions.Faster for pre-defined functions due to optimizations.Memory EfficiencyCreates a list in memory directly.Returns an iterator, which is memory efficient.Custom LogicBetter for adding conditions or custom logic.Limited to the function provided.Use CaseSimple or custom transformations with conditions.Applying pre-defined functions or handling large datasets. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Map vs List comprehension - Python A akritigoswami Follow Improve Article Tags : Technical Scripter Python Technical Scripter 2019 python-list python-map +1 More Practice Tags : pythonpython-list Similar Reads List Comprehension in Python List comprehension is a way to create lists using a concise syntax. It allows us to generate a new list by applying an expression to each item in an existing iterable (such as a list or range). This helps us to write cleaner, more readable code compared to traditional looping techniques.For example, 4 min read Comprehensions in Python Comprehensions in Python provide a concise and efficient way to create new sequences from existing ones. They enhance code readability and reduce the need for lengthy loops. Python supports four types of comprehensions:List ComprehensionsDictionary ComprehensionsSet ComprehensionsGenerator Comprehen 3 min read Python Dictionary Comprehension Like List Comprehension, Python allows dictionary comprehensions. We can create dictionaries using simple expressions. A dictionary comprehension takes the form {key: value for (key, value) in iterable}Python Dictionary Comprehension ExampleHere we have two lists named keys and value and we are iter 4 min read Create a List of Tuples in Python The task of creating a list of tuples in Python involves combining or transforming multiple data elements into a sequence of tuples within a list. Tuples are immutable, making them useful when storing fixed pairs or groups of values, while lists offer flexibility for dynamic collections. For example 3 min read List comprehension and Lambda Function in Python List comprehension is an elegant way to define and create a list in Python. We can create lists just like mathematical statements and in one line only. The syntax of list comprehension is easier to grasp. A list comprehension generally consists of these parts :Output expression,Input sequence,A vari 3 min read Like