What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
iterator
Example
The iterator returned the next element in the list. [iterator: noun]
Example
I used an iterator to loop through the array and print each element. [iterator: noun]
index
Example
The index of the first element in the array is 0. [index: noun]
Example
I used the index to change the value of the third element in the list. [index: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Index is more commonly used than iterator in programming languages. Index is a fundamental concept in computer science and is used extensively in data structures and algorithms. While iterator is also widely used, it is a more specialized concept that is not used as frequently as index.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between iterator and index?
Both iterator and index are technical terms used in programming languages and are therefore considered formal language.
