What is the difference between an array and a list?

The difference between an array and a list generally boils down to their structure, flexibility, and usage in programming:
1. Structure:
* Array: A fixed-size collection of elements, typically of the same data type. Arrays are often stored in contiguous memory locations.
* List: A more flexible collection that can hold elements of different types (in some languages). Lists can dynamically resize and are generally implemented as linked structures or dynamic arrays.
2. Size:
* Array: The size must be defined at creation and cannot be changed (in most languages).
* List: Can grow or shrink as needed, allowing for more dynamic data handling.
3. Performance:
* Array: Faster access times due to contiguous memory allocation and fixed size.
* List: May have slower access times for certain operations due to potential overhead in managing dynamic resizing.
4. Functionality:
* Array: Limited in built-in functions; mainly used for simple storage and retrieval.
* List: Typically comes with a rich set of methods for manipulation (adding, removing, sorting, etc.).
5. Language Specifics:
* In languages like Python, arrays (from the array module) and lists are distinct, while in languages like Java, you have ArrayList as a list implementation. In JavaScript, arrays are flexible and function similarly to lists.