What does the map() function do in Python?

The map() function in Python is designed to apply a specified function to each item of an iterable, such as a list or a tuple, and return a map object (which is an iterator) containing the results. This allows for efficient processing of elements in an iterable by applying the same operation to all of them in a concise manner.

Using map() enhances code readability and can often lead to more efficient execution, especially when working with larger datasets or performing operations that can be parallelized. For instance, if you have a function that squares a number, you can easily utilize map() to apply that function to a list of numbers, yielding a new iterable containing the squared values.

The other choices do not accurately describe the functionality of map(). While one suggestion mentions applying a function to all items in a list, it misses the broader scope of any iterable. Creating a copy of a list and sorting a list in place pertain to different operations in Python that do not involve applying a function across elements.