StackScholar

Python language

Generator

A function using yield, producing values lazily and holding its state between calls.

Why interviewers ask about it

The memory argument is the point: constant memory regardless of length, which is how you stream a file larger than RAM. The trade is single-consumption and no indexing.

Related terms

Iterator protocol

__iter__ returning an iterator and __next__ returning the next value or raising StopIteration.

Coroutine

A function defined with async def. Calling it returns a coroutine object; nothing runs until it is awaited or scheduled.

This term is part of the free Python Full-Stack interview preparation module - browse the full glossary for every definition.