How do i choose if to use the console or workspace? What is the use case for each

When just using the console you are using the python shell, which is an interactive area to execute single python commands. So far example if you want to test a new python function that you have read in the docs say for example .strip(), you can open the python shell and see the output when using the function. Anything that you do in the python shell if forgotten as soon as you leave so you would never write a full application in the shell.

When you are using the workspace you are essentially using a text editor to create files. This is where you will do the majority of your python coding, here you will write your classes, functions and methods. You will then have to open the console again, but rather than enter the python shell you will use the python command to run the python files you have just created. for example "python yourfile.py".