Python - Tuples

Python - Tuples

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A Tuple is a type of data container in Python which is used to store multiple data in one variable. It can contain elements of different data types. Elements in a tuple are ordered and can be accessed using it's index number. Unlike lists, tuples are immutable and hence elements of a tuple are not changeable.

Create Tuple

Tuple can be created by separating it's elements by comma (,) and enclosing with round brackets ( ). Additionally, it can also be created using .

Example

 
#Tuple with multiple datatypes
Info = ('John', 25, 'London') 
print(Info)

#Creating tuple using constructor
colors = tuple(('Red', 'Blue', 'Green')) 
print(colors)

Output

('John', 25, 'London')

('Red', 'Blue', 'Green')

Access element of a Tuple

An element of a tuple can be accessed with it's index number. Index number for tuple in Python starts with 0 in forward direction and -1 in backward direction. The below figure and example describe the indexing concept of a tuple.

Tuple Indexing:

Python Tuples Indexing

Example

weekday = ('MON', 'TUE', 'WED', 'THU', 'FRI')
#forward indexing
print(weekday[1])

#backward indexing
print(weekday[-1])

Output

TUE

FRI

Access range of elements of a Tuple

Range of elements of a tuple can be selected using statement like [start_index : end_index] where end_index is excluded. If start_index or end_index are not mentioned then it takes first and last index numbers of the tuple respectively.

Example

weekday = ('MON', 'TUE', 'WED', 'THU', 'FRI')
print(weekday[1:3])
print(weekday[-5:-1])

print(weekday[1:])
print(weekday[:-3])

print(weekday[:])

Output

('TUE', 'WED')                         
('MON', 'TUE', 'WED', 'THU')           

('TUE', 'WED', 'THU', 'FRI')    
('MON', 'TUE')                     

('MON', 'TUE', 'WED', 'THU', 'FRI')

Modify element's value

Tuple's elements are immutable and unchangeable. However, there is a way around to achieve this. First, change tuple into list using Next Page, make required changes and finally, convert it back to tuple using .

Example

Info = ('John', 25, 'London')
#tuple converted into list
Info = list(Info)   
#Making required changes
Info[0] = 'Marry'   
#list converted back to tuple
Info = tuple(Info)  
print(Info)

Output

('Marry', 25, 'London')

Add / Delete elements of a Tuple

Tuple's elements are immutable and unchangeable. Therefore it is not possible to delete or modify elements after creating the tuple. However, the tuple can be deleted itself using del keyword.

Example

month = ('JAN', 'FEB', 'MAR')
# returns an error
month[3] = 'APR'      
print(month)

Output

TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment


Example

month = ('JAN', 'FEB', 'MAR')
# returns an error
del month[2]          
print(month)

Output

TypeError: 'tuple' object doesn't support item deletion


Example

month = ('JAN', 'FEB', 'MAR')
# delete tuple completely
del month             
print(month)

Output

NameError: name 'month' is not defined

Tuple Length

The len() function can be used to find out total number of elements in a list, tuple, set or dictionary.

Example

number = (10, 50, 50, 100, 1000, 1000)
print(len(number))

Output

6

Loop over Tuple

For loop over Tuple:

for loop can be used to access each element of a tuple.

Example

colors = ('Red', 'Blue', 'Green')
for x in colors:
    print(x)

Output

Red
Blue
Green

While loop over Tuple

By using while loop and len() function, each element of a tuple can be accessed.

Example

colors = ('Red', 'Blue', 'Green')
i = 0
while i < len(colors):
    print(colors[i])
    i = i + 1

Output

Red
Blue
Green

Check an element in the Tuple

Example

colors = ('Red', 'Blue', 'Green')
if 'white' in colors:
  print('Yes, white is an element of colors.')
else:
  print('No, white is not an element of colors.')

Output

No, white is not an element of colors.

Join Tuples

Using + operator (tuple3 = tuple1 + tuple2), tuple3 can be created which contains tuple1 and tuple2.

Example

colors = ('Red', 'Blue', 'Green')
numbers = (10, 20)
mytuple = colors + numbers
print(mytuple)

Output

('Red', 'Blue', 'Green', 10, 20)

Single Element Tuple

Add comma (,) after the element to create single element tuple.

Example

#this is tuple
color = ('Red',)    
print(type(color))

#this is string
color = ('Red')     
print(type(color))

Output

<class 'tuple'> 
<class 'str'>



Recommended Pages

  • A
  • Tuple
  • is a type of data container in Python which is used to store multiple data in one variable. It can contain elements of different data types. Elements in a tuple are

Tuple Methods & Functions
MethodsDescription
ordered Returns the number of occurrence of a specified element in the tuple
and can be accessed using it's index number. Unlike lists, tuples are Returns the index of first occurrence of a specified element in the tuple
FunctionsDescription
immutable Returns total number of elements in the tuple
and hence elements of a tuple are not changeable. tuple function/constructor is used to create tuple from iterable like list, tuple, set, string and dictionary, etc.
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