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Named Tuple Usage

Zero-dependency Python snippets for using collections.namedtuple in the standard library.

6 snippets available in this sub-category.

Simple

Create and use a namedtuple

namedtuple tuple create access data-structures

Create a named tuple for readable, immutable records

from collections import namedtuple

Point = namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"])
p = Point(10, 20)
print(p)  # Point(x=10, y=20)
print(p.x)  # 10
print(p.y)  # 20

Notes

  • namedtuple creates a lightweight, immutable class
  • Fields are accessible by name and index

Access by index and unpacking

namedtuple tuple unpacking index data-structures

Access namedtuple fields by index or unpacking

from collections import namedtuple


Point = namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"])
p = Point(10, 20)
print(p[0])  # 10
x, y = p
print(x, y)  # 10 20

Notes

  • Behaves like a regular tuple for unpacking and indexing

Complex

Namedtuple with defaults (Python 3.7+)

namedtuple defaults tuple data-structures

Use defaults for missing fields in namedtuple

from collections import namedtuple

Person = namedtuple("Person", ["name", "age", "city"], defaults=["Unknown"])
p1 = Person("Alice", 30)
p2 = Person("Bob", 25, "NYC")
print(p1)  # Person(name='Alice', age=30, city='Unknown')
print(p2)  # Person(name='Bob', age=25, city='NYC')

Notes

  • Defaults are available in Python 3.7+

Namedtuple as dictionary (._asdict())

namedtuple dict asdict data-structures

Convert namedtuple to an ordered dict

from collections import namedtuple


Point = namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"])
p = Point(10, 20)
d = p._asdict()
print(d)  # {'x': 10, 'y': 20}

Notes

  • _asdict() returns an OrderedDict of fields

Replace fields with ._replace()

namedtuple replace immutable data-structures

Create a new namedtuple with one or more fields changed

from collections import namedtuple


Point = namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"])
p = Point(10, 20)
p2 = p._replace(x=99)
print(p2)  # Point(x=99, y=20)

Notes

  • namedtuples are immutable; _replace() returns a new instance

Nested namedtuples and practical usage

namedtuple nested structure data-structures

Use namedtuples for nested, structured data

from collections import namedtuple

Point = namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"])
Rectangle = namedtuple("Rectangle", ["top_left", "bottom_right"])
rect = Rectangle(Point(0, 0), Point(10, 10))
print(rect.top_left.x, rect.bottom_right.y)  # 0 10

Notes

  • Useful for geometric, config, or record-like data

🔗 Cross Reference

🏷️ Tags

namedtuple, tuple, defaults, asdict, replace, nested, data-structures

📝 Notes

  • namedtuple is a memory-efficient alternative to classes for simple records
  • Immutability makes them safe for use as dict keys or set elements