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Table of contents
  1. Python (Tuples)
    1. Tuples vs. Lists
    2. Features of Tuples
      1. Ordered and Indexed
      2. Immutable(Rigid)
      3. Hetro..Hetrogenxblabla - urrgh! All datatypes welcome!
    3. Creating Tuples
      1. Using Parentheses ()
      2. Without Parentheses
      3. Using the tuple() Function
    4. Common Errors
      1. Trying to Modify a Tuple
      2. Forgetting Comma in Single-Item Tuples
    5. Examples of Using Tuples
      1. Storing Coordinates
      2. Returning Multiple Values from Functions
      3. Using Tuples as Dictionary Keys
    6. Summary
    7. Test your knowledge
      1. Question - Tuple Indexing
      2. Question - Tuple Containing a List
      3. Question - Tuple Concatenation
      4. Question - Immutable Tuples
      5. Question - Single-Item Tuple
      6. Question - Tuple Methods
      7. Question - Tuple Length
      8. Question - Nested Tuples
      9. Question - Tuple Slicing
      10. Question - Tuple Containment
      11. Question - Tuple Unpacking
      12. Question - Tuple Multiplication
      13. Question - Tuple Conversion
      14. Question - Tuple with Mixed Types
      15. Question - Tuple Indexing
      16. Question - Tuple Containing a List
      17. Question - Tuple Concatenation
      18. Question - Immutable Tuples
      19. Question - Single-Item Tuple
      20. Question - Tuple Methods
      21. Question - Tuple Length
      22. Question - Nested Tuples
      23. Question - Tuple Slicing
      24. Question - Tuple Containment
      25. Question - Tuple Unpacking
      26. Question - Tuple Multiplication
      27. Question - Tuple Conversion
      28. Question - Tuple with Mixed Types
      29. Question - Tuple Assignment
      30. Question - Tuple Immutability with List
    8. Examples

Python (Tuples)

Tuples are collections of items where items have serial numbers, but they can't be changed - No add/remove/reorder. They can have duplicates. Tuples are like a necklace. Once you create them you can't change them. You can't add/remove items. You can't reorder items.

Technically they are ordered collections of immutable objects. Phew!

Python has 4 built-in data types - LSTD - List, Set, Tuple, Dictionary.

Tuples and lists both store items, but there are key differences. **Tuples** can't be changed once created; you can't add, remove, or modify items. **Lists** can be changed; you can add, remove, or modify items. Both can have duplicate items.

Tuples vs. Lists

Tuples and lists both store items, but there are key differences. **Tuples** can't be changed once created; you can't add, remove, or modify items. **Lists** can be changed; you can add, remove, or modify items. Both can have duplicate items. 

# Tuples can have duplicates
my_tuple = (1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)
print(my_tuple)  # Output: (1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)

# Lists can also have duplicates
my_list = [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4]
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4]

Tuples use `()`, and lists use `[]`. Use tuples for fixed data and lists for data that changes.

Features of Tuples

Ordered and Indexed

Tuple items have serial numbers(Index). And they stay the same. The first item stays first, the second stays second, and so on.

I.e., Tuples are ‘ordered’

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
print(my_tuple[0])  # Output: 1
print(my_tuple[1])  # Output: 2

Immutable(Rigid)

Once created, you can’t change the items in a tuple. This means you can’t add, remove, or replace items in a tuple. This makes tuples very reliable for storing data that shouldn’t change.

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
# Trying to change a value will cause an error
my_tuple[0] = 10  # Error: TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

# Trying to add an item will cause an error
my_tuple.append(4)  # Error: AttributeError: 'tuple' object has no attribute 'append'

# Trying to remove an item will cause an error
my_tuple.remove(2)  # Error: AttributeError: 'tuple' object has no attribute 'remove'

Hetro..Hetrogenxblabla - urrgh! All datatypes welcome!

Tuples can hold items of different types, including other tuples.

mixed_tuple = (1, "hello", 3.14, (2, 4))
print(mixed_tuple)  # Output: (1, 'hello', 3.14, (2, 4))

Tuples take less memory than others

Creating Tuples

There are a few ways to create tuples in Python:

Using Parentheses () 

# Creating an empty tuple
empty_tuple = ()

# Creating a tuple with items
my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)

Without Parentheses

You can also create a tuple by simply separating items with commas.

my_tuple = 1, 2, 3

Using the tuple() Function

You can convert other data types (like lists) to tuples using the tuple() function.

my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_tuple = tuple(my_list)

Common Errors

Trying to Modify a Tuple

Since tuples are immutable, trying to change an item will result in an error.

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
my_tuple[0] = 10  # Error: TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

Forgetting Comma in Single-Item Tuples

A tuple with one item needs a comma, otherwise, Python will not recognize it as a tuple.

single_item_tuple = (1,)
print(type(single_item_tuple))  # Output: <class 'tuple'>

not_a_tuple = (1)
print(type(not_a_tuple))  # Output: <class 'int'>

Examples of Using Tuples

Storing Coordinates

Tuples are great for storing fixed sets of data like coordinates.

coordinates = (10.0, 20.0)
print(coordinates)  # Output: (10.0, 20.0)

Returning Multiple Values from Functions

Functions can return multiple values using tuples.

def get_name_and_age():
    name = "Alice"
    age = 30
    return name, age

name, age = get_name_and_age()
print(name)  # Output: Alice
print(age)  # Output: 30

Using Tuples as Dictionary Keys

Because tuples are immutable, they can be used as keys in dictionaries.

location_data = {}
location = (10.0, 20.0)
location_data[location] = "Location 1"
print(location_data)  # Output: {(10.0, 20.0): 'Location 1'}

Did you know this?

"Hello, %s! You're %s years old." % ("Kim John", 150)

Summary

  • Tuples: Like lists but can’t modify.
  • Create: Using (), commas, or tuple().
  • Features: Ordered, immutable, and can hold different data types.
  • Use Cases: Fixed collections, multiple return values, dictionary keys.

Tuples are useful to put constant items in a group. They are easy to understand and make code easy to read.

Test your knowledge

Highlight the answer section to reveal!

Question - Tuple Indexing

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(my_tuple[-1])

Answer: 5

Question - Tuple Containing a List

What will happen if you try to include a list inside a tuple?

my_tuple = (1, [2, 3], 4)
my_tuple[1][0] = 5
print(my_tuple)

Answer: (1, [5, 3], 4)

Question - Tuple Concatenation

What will be the output of the following statement?

tuple1 = (1, 2)
tuple2 = (3, 4)
print(tuple1 + tuple2)

Answer: (1, 2, 3, 4)

Question - Immutable Tuples

What will happen if you try to change an element of a tuple?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
my_tuple[0] = 4

Answer: TypeError: ‘tuple’ object does not support item assignment

Question - Single-Item Tuple

How do you create a tuple with a single item?

single_item_tuple = (1)
print(type(single_item_tuple))

Answer: <class ‘int’>

Question - Tuple Methods

Which method would you use to find the index of a value in a tuple?

my_tuple = (10, 20, 30, 40)
print(my_tuple.index(30))

Answer: 2

Question - Tuple Length

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(len(my_tuple))

Answer: 5

Question - Nested Tuples

What will be the output of the following statement?

nested_tuple = (1, (2, 3), 4)
print(nested_tuple[1])

Answer: (2, 3)

Question - Tuple Slicing

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(my_tuple[1:3])

Answer: (2, 3)

Question - Tuple Containment

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(3 in my_tuple)

Answer: True

Question - Tuple Unpacking

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
a, b, c = my_tuple
print(a, b, c)

Answer: 1 2 3

Question - Tuple Multiplication

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
print(my_tuple * 2)

Answer: (1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3)

Question - Tuple Conversion

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_tuple = tuple(my_list)
print(my_tuple)

Answer: (1, 2, 3)

Question - Tuple with Mixed Types

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, "hello", 3.14)
print(my_tuple[1])

Answer: hello

Question - Tuple Indexing

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(my_tuple[-1])

Answer: 5

Question - Tuple Containing a List

What will happen if you try to include a list inside a tuple?

my_tuple = (1, [2, 3], 4)
my_tuple[1][0] = 5
print(my_tuple)

Answer: (1, [5, 3], 4)

Question - Tuple Concatenation

What will be the output of the following statement?

tuple1 = (1, 2)
tuple2 = (3, 4)
print(tuple1 + tuple2)

Answer: (1, 2, 3, 4)

Question - Immutable Tuples

What will happen if you try to change an element of a tuple?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
my_tuple[0] = 4

Answer: TypeError: ‘tuple’ object does not support item assignment

Question - Single-Item Tuple

How do you create a tuple with a single item?

single_item_tuple = (1)
print(type(single_item_tuple))

Answer: <class ‘int’>

Question - Tuple Methods

Which method would you use to find the index of a value in a tuple?

my_tuple = (10, 20, 30, 40)
print(my_tuple.index(30))

Answer: 2

Question - Tuple Length

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(len(my_tuple))

Answer: 5

Question - Nested Tuples

What will be the output of the following statement?

nested_tuple = (1, (2, 3), 4)
print(nested_tuple[1])

Answer: (2, 3)

Question - Tuple Slicing

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(my_tuple[1:3])

Answer: (2, 3)

Question - Tuple Containment

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(3 in my_tuple)

Answer: True

Question - Tuple Unpacking

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
a, b, c = my_tuple
print(a, b, c)

Answer: 1 2 3

Question - Tuple Multiplication

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
print(my_tuple * 2)

Answer: (1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3)

Question - Tuple Conversion

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_tuple = tuple(my_list)
print(my_tuple)

Answer: (1, 2, 3)

Question - Tuple with Mixed Types

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, "hello", 3.14)
print(my_tuple[1])

Answer: hello

Question - Tuple Assignment

What will happen when you try to reassign a tuple variable?

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
my_tuple = (4, 5, 6)
print(my_tuple)

Answer: (4, 5, 6)

Question - Tuple Immutability with List

What will be the output of the following statement?

my_tuple = (1, [2, 3], 4)
my_tuple[1].append(5)
print(my_tuple)

Answer: (1, [2, 3, 5], 4)

Examples 

def biography_list(people):
    # Iterate over each "person" in the given "people" list of tuples. 
    for item in people:
        # This is the highlight of the code   
        name, age, profession = item # The tuple gets assigned into 3 variables
        
        # Format the required sentence and place the 3 variables 
        # in the correct placeholders using the .format() method.
        print("{} is {} years old and works as {}".format(name, age, profession))

# Call to the function:
biography_list([("Dilwali", 30, "a Dulhania"), ("Raj", 35, "nam to suna hi hoga"), ("Maria", 25, "oh maria")])

# Output:
# Ira is 30 years old and works as a Chef
# Raj is 35 years old and works as a Lawyer
# Maria is 25 years old and works as an Engineer