Iterators Without Generators
Iterators without generators refer to the manual implementation of iterator objects in programming languages that support the iterator protocol, such as Python or JavaScript, without using generator functions or yield statements. This involves creating a class or object with __iter__() and __next__() methods (in Python) or a next() method (in JavaScript) to define custom iteration behavior. It provides fine-grained control over iteration logic, such as state management or complex data traversal, but requires more boilerplate code compared to generators.
Developers should learn this concept when they need to implement custom iteration logic that generators cannot easily handle, such as iterating over non-linear data structures (e.g., trees or graphs), managing complex state during iteration, or integrating with legacy code that uses iterator patterns. It is also useful for educational purposes to understand the underlying mechanics of iteration in languages like Python, where it forms the basis for more advanced features like generators and comprehensions.