What is the difference between range and xrange functions in Python 2.X?

Question

Apparently xrange is faster but I have no idea why it\'s faster (and no proof besides the anecdotal so far that it is faster) or what besides that is different about

Answer 1

What?
range returns a static list at runtime.
xrange returns an object (which acts like a generator, although it's certainly not one) from which values are generated as and when required.

When to use which?

• Use xrange if you want to generate a list for a gigantic range, say 1 billion, especially when you have a "memory sensitive system" like a cell phone.
• Use range if you want to iterate over the list several times.

PS: Python 3.x's range function == Python 2.x's xrange function.