Python Tuples — Full Notes

What is a Tuple?

Example of creating a tuple:

mytuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")

Printing a Tuple

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
print(thistuple)

Tuples Allow Duplicate Values

Since tuples are indexed, duplicate values are allowed.

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "apple", "cherry")
print(thistuple)

Tuple Length

Use len() to get the number of elements in a tuple.

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
print(len(thistuple))

Tuple With One Item

A tuple with one item must include a comma, otherwise Python treats it as a string.

thistuple = ("apple",)
print(type(thistuple))

thistuple = ("apple")
print(type(thistuple))

Data Types in Tuples

Tuples can contain any data type, including mixed types.

tuple1 = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
tuple2 = (1, 5, 7, 9, 3)
tuple3 = (True, False, False)

tuple1 = ("abc", 34, True, 40, "male")

Tuple Type

Tuples belong to the tuple data type.

mytuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
print(type(mytuple))

tuple() Constructor

You can also create a tuple using the tuple() constructor.

thistuple = tuple(("apple", "banana", "cherry"))
print(thistuple)

Access Tuple Items

Tuple items can be accessed using indexes or slicing.

Access by Index

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
print(thistuple[1])

Negative Indexing

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
print(thistuple[-1])

Range of Indexes

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango")
print(thistuple[2:5])

Updating Tuples

Tuples are immutable, meaning their values cannot be changed directly. However, you can convert a tuple into a list, modify it, and convert it back.

Change Tuple Values (Workaround)

x = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
y = list(x)
y[1] = "kiwi"
x = tuple(y)
print(x)

Add Items (via list conversion)

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
y = list(thistuple)
y.append("orange")
thistuple = tuple(y)

Add Tuple to Tuple

thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
y = ("orange",)
thistuple += y
print(thistuple)

Tuple Packing & Unpacking

Packing

fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")

Unpacking

fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
(green, yellow, red) = fruits

Using Asterisk (*)

Asterisk collects remaining values into a list while unpacking.

fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "strawberry", "raspberry")
(green, yellow, *red) = fruits

fruits = ("apple", "mango", "papaya", "pineapple", "cherry")
(green, *tropic, red) = fruits

Tuple Methods

Tuples have only two built-in methods: