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Tuples

A tuple is a collection of ordered elements enclosed in parentheses (). The elements within a tuple can be of any data type – numbers, strings, or even other tuples. One of the standout features of tuples is their immutability. Once a tuple is created, its elements cannot be changed, added, or removed. This property makes tuples ideal for situations where you want to ensure data integrity.

Creating Tuples​

Creating a tuple is simple. You can define a tuple by enclosing comma-separated values within parentheses:

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

Even if you omit the parentheses, Python treats comma-separated values as a tuple:

colors = "red", "green", "blue"

Accessing Tuple Elements​

You can access tuple elements using indexing, just like you would with lists:

fruits = ("apple", "banana", "orange")
print(fruits[0])  # Output: apple
print(fruits[2])  # Output: orange

Tuple Unpacking​

Tuple unpacking is a nifty feature that allows you to assign elements of a tuple to multiple variables in a single line:

dimensions = (10, 20, 30)
length, width, height = dimensions
print(length)  # Output: 10
print(width)   # Output: 20
print(height)  # Output: 30

Where you may see tuples​

If you are returning a group of data items that should not change, tuples are ideal. For example, if you are returning a student record, you may want to return a tuple containing the student's name, age, and grade. Since the data is unlikely to change, at least during the current session of the running program, you can use a tuple to ensure it remains intact.

Even if you don't use tuples in your own code very often, you'll encounter them in many places. For example, the items() method of dictionaries returns a list of tuples containing the key-value pairs of the dictionary:

student = {
    "name": "John",
    "age": 20,
    "grades": [80, 85, 90, 95, 100]
}

print(student.items())

Use Cases for Tuples​

  • Data Integrity: Tuples are useful when you want to ensure that data remains unchanged. For example, representing geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude) as a tuple ensures the pair remains intact.
  • Multiple Return Values: Functions can return multiple values as a tuple. This simplifies the process of working with multiple outcomes from a function.
  • Dictionary Keys: Tuples can be used as keys in dictionaries, unlike lists, because they are immutable.
  • Data Record: Tuples can be employed to represent a single data record, such as student details (name, age, grade) or the results of calculations in linear algebra that returns a spatial location in three dimensions (x, y, z).

Limitations of Tuples​

While tuples offer numerous advantages, they do have some limitations due to their immutability:

  • No Modifications: Once a tuple is created, you can't modify its elements. You would need to create a new tuple with the desired changes.
  • Less Flexibility: Tuples are not as flexible as lists, making them less suitable for scenarios where data needs to be frequently modified.