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Python Basics

Tuple in Python

A tuple is an ordered collection like a list, but it cannot be changed once created, which makes it a good fit for fixed groups such as coordinates.

What is Tuple?

A tuple is an ordered collection like a list, but it cannot be changed once created, which makes it a good fit for fixed groups such as coordinates.

Group values in a tuple, unpack them and return several values from a function.

When should you use it?

  • Learn Python syntax through a practical example.
  • Build a foundation for larger programming problems.
  • Test an idea quickly without a local setup.

See how it works

A tuple is fixed once it is created. Try to change it, then unpack its values into separate variables.

Example code

Run code →
main.py
# A tuple is an ordered collection that cannot be changed after it is created.
point = (3, 4)
colors = ("red", "green", "blue")

print(point[0], point[1])
print(len(colors), colors[-1])

# Unpacking assigns each item to its own variable.
x, y = point
print(f"x = {x}, y = {y}")

# Functions can return several values as a tuple.
def min_max(values):
    return min(values), max(values)

low, high = min_max([7, 2, 9, 4])
print(low, high)

# Swap two variables without a temporary one.
a, b = 1, 2
a, b = b, a
print(a, b)

# Trying to change a tuple raises an error.
try:
    point[0] = 10
except TypeError as error:
    print("Error:", error)

Expected output

3 4
3 blue
x = 3, y = 4
2 9
2 1
Error: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

How it works

Unpacking assigns each item to its own variable, which is also how a function returns several values and how a, b = b, a swaps two variables.

Change the values and run the program in the CodeUtility online Python compiler without installing Python locally.

Practice exercises

Modify the runnable example with the exercises below to build understanding beyond copying the result.

  1. Change the input and predict the output before running.
  2. Handle empty or invalid input.
  3. Wrap the logic in a function and add more test cases.
Run in Python IDE →

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