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Create and Use Tuples

Zero-dependency Python snippets for creating and using tuples with the standard library.

5 snippets available in this sub-category.

Simple

Create a tuple

tuple create immutable data-structures

Create tuples in various ways

# Empty tuple
t1 = ()
print(t1)  # ()

# Tuple with elements
t2 = (1, 2, 3)
print(t2)  # (1, 2, 3)

# Tuple without parentheses
t3 = 1, 2, 3
print(t3)  # (1, 2, 3)

# Single-element tuple (note the comma)
t4 = (42,)
print(t4)  # (42,)

Notes

  • Tuples are immutable sequences
  • Parentheses are optional except for empty or single-element tuples

Tuple from iterable

tuple from-list from-string data-structures

Convert list or string to tuple

lst = [1, 2, 3]
tup = tuple(lst)
print(tup)  # (1, 2, 3)

s = "abc"
tup2 = tuple(s)
print(tup2)  # ('a', 'b', 'c')

Notes

  • tuple() constructor works with any iterable

Complex

Tuple packing and unpacking

tuple packing unpacking extended data-structures

Pack and unpack tuples, including extended unpacking

# Packing
coords = 10, 20
print(coords)  # (10, 20)

# Unpacking
x, y = coords
print(x, y)  # 10 20

# Extended unpacking
first, *middle, last = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(first)  # 1
print(middle)  # [2, 3, 4]
print(last)  # 5

Notes

  • Unpacking works with any iterable
  • Extended unpacking (with *) is available in Python 3

Tuple immutability and usage

tuple immutable hashable dict-key data-structures

Tuples are immutable and hashable

tup = (1, 2, 3)
# tup[0] = 99  # Raises TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

# Tuples can be used as dictionary keys
my_dict = {(1, 2): "point"}
print(my_dict[(1, 2)])  # 'point'

Notes

  • Tuples cannot be changed after creation
  • Useful as keys in dictionaries or elements in sets

Nested tuples and tuple of tuples

tuple nested matrix data-structures

Use tuples for fixed-size, nested data

matrix = ((1, 2), (3, 4), (5, 6))
for row in matrix:
    print(row)
# (1, 2)
# (3, 4)
# (5, 6)

Notes

  • Tuples can contain other tuples or any objects
  • Useful for representing matrices, coordinates, etc.

🔗 Cross Reference

🏷️ Tags

tuple, create, immutable, packing, unpacking, hashable, data-structures

📝 Notes

  • Use tuples for fixed-size, immutable collections
  • Tuples are more memory-efficient than lists for small, constant data