Python is where I developed my (naturally flawed but possibly useful) mental model for generators: you are "pulling" data out of them.
Instead of pushing data into a processing grinder, watching the sausage links pour out the other side, whether you're prepared or not, you're pulling each sausage on-demand, causing the machine to move as a consequence of wanting an output.
I'm sure smarter people appreciate generators more than I do. They're useful for co-routines and other wizardry. But I personally just find the mental model more useful in some cases, especially knowing it keeps memory and CPU usage more in-line with my needs. Doubly especially if my generator may not have an upper bound.
Instead of pushing data into a processing grinder, watching the sausage links pour out the other side, whether you're prepared or not, you're pulling each sausage on-demand, causing the machine to move as a consequence of wanting an output.
I'm sure smarter people appreciate generators more than I do. They're useful for co-routines and other wizardry. But I personally just find the mental model more useful in some cases, especially knowing it keeps memory and CPU usage more in-line with my needs. Doubly especially if my generator may not have an upper bound.