A tuple is an ordered collection, like a list, but you can’t change it after you create it. Tuples are used for fixed data such as coordinates, dates and values returned from a function. This lesson shows how to create tuples, read them, unpack them, and decide when to use a tuple instead of a list.

Try every example in our online Python compiler.

 

Create a tuple

A tuple is written with round brackets ().

fruits = ('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
print(fruits)
print(type(fruits))

Output:

('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
<class 'tuple'>

 

A tuple with one item

A tuple with a single item needs a comma after the item. Without the comma, Python treats the value as a normal number or string.

print(type((5,)))
print(type((5)))
print(type(tuple([1, 2])))

Output:

<class 'tuple'>
<class 'int'>
<class 'tuple'>

 

Access items

Indexing and slicing work exactly as they do for lists. The first index is 0, and negative indexes count from the end.

fruits = ('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
print(fruits[0])
print(fruits[-1])
print(fruits[1:])
print(len(fruits))

Output:

apple
cherry
('banana', 'cherry')
3

 

Tuples cannot be changed

Tuples are immutable. You cannot change, add or remove an item.

fruits = ('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
try:
    fruits[0] = 'mango'
except TypeError as e:
    print('TypeError:', e)

Output:

TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

If you need to change a tuple, convert it to a list, make the change, and convert it back:

fruits = ('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
items = list(fruits)
items.append('date')
print(items)
print(tuple(items))

Output:

['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date']
('apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date')

 

Unpack a tuple

Unpacking assigns the items of a tuple to separate variables in one step.

fruits = ('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
a, b, c = fruits
print(a, b, c)

first, *rest = (1, 2, 3, 4)
print(first, rest)

Output:

apple banana cherry
1 [2, 3, 4]

The number of variables must match the number of items, unless you use * to collect the extra items into a list.

 

 

Tuple methods

A tuple has only two methods, because it cannot be changed.

nums = (1, 2, 2, 3, 2)
print(nums.count(2))
print(nums.index(3))

Output:

3
3

count(x) tells you how many times x appears, and index(x) gives the index of the first x.

 

 

nums = (1, 2, 2, 3, 2)
print((1, 2) + (3,))
print((0,) * 3)
print(2 in nums)

Output:

(1, 2, 3)
(0, 0, 0)
True

 

Loop through a tuple

fruits = ('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')
for item in fruits:
    print(item)

Output:

apple
banana
cherry

 

Return many values from a function

A function can return several values as a tuple, and you can unpack them into variables.

def min_max(values):
    return min(values), max(values)

result = min_max([4, 9, 1])
print(result)

low, high = min_max([4, 9, 1])
print(low, high)

Output:

(1, 9)
1 9

 

Swap two variables

Tuple unpacking gives the shortest way to swap two values.

x, y = 1, 2
x, y = y, x
print(x, y)

Output:

2 1

 

Nested tuples and tuples as dictionary keys

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

points = {(1, 2): 'point'}
print(points[(1, 2)])

Output:

3
point

Because a tuple cannot be changed, it can be used as a dictionary key. A list cannot.

 

 

Tuple vs list

 

List

Tuple

Brackets

[ ]

( )

Can be changed

Yes

No

Methods

Many

Only count() and index()

Can be a dictionary key

No

Yes

Best for

Data that changes

Fixed data

Tuples are also a little smaller and faster than lists, but the main reason to use one is to show that the data should not change.

 

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting the comma in a one-item tuple. Write (5,), not (5).
  • Trying to change a tuple. Convert it to a list first, or create a new tuple.
  • Unpacking into the wrong number of variables. a, b = (1, 2, 3) raises a ValueError.

 

Practice questions

  1. Create a tuple of your five favourite colours and print the last two.
  2. Count how many times 5 appears in (5, 1, 5, 2, 5).
  3. Write a function that returns the sum and the average of a list as a tuple.
  4. Convert the tuple (1, 2, 3) to a list, append 4, and convert it back.

 

Summary

  • A tuple is an ordered collection written with ( ), and it cannot be changed.
  • Use indexing, slicing and unpacking to read it.
  • A one-item tuple needs a trailing comma.
  • Use a tuple for fixed data, and a list for data that changes.
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