Tuples in Python

In this article, we'll get acquainted with tuples — ordered and immutable collections of data in Python.

Tuples may seem very similar to lists, but there are important differences between them that affect when and how they should be used.

What is a tuple?

A tuple in Python is an ordered, immutable collection of elements that can be of different types. Simply put, it's like a list, but one that cannot be changed after creation.

Main properties of tuples:

• Ordered: elements are stored in a specific order
• Immutable: after creation, you cannot add, remove, or change elements
• Indexable: elements can be accessed by their indices
• Allow duplicates: they can contain repeated values
• Can contain different data types: integers, strings, lists, etc.

Creating tuples

There are several ways to create tuples in Python:

1. Using parentheses ()

Python 3.13
# Empty tuple
>>> empty_tuple = ()

# Tuple with a single element (comma is required!)
>>> single_item = (42,)
>>> type(single_item)
<class 'tuple'>

# Without a comma, it's just a number: (42) == 42
>>> single_item_num = (42)
>>> type(single_item_num)
<class 'int'>

# Tuple of numbers
>>> numbers = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

# Tuple with different data types
>>> mixed = (1, "hello", True, 3.14)

# Nested tuples
>>> nested = ((1, 2), ("a", "b"), (True, False))

2. Without parentheses (comma separation)

Python allows creating tuples even without parentheses, simply by listing elements separated by commas:

Python 3.13
# Creating a tuple without parentheses
>>> coordinates = 10.5, 20.7, 30.9
>>> type(coordinates)
<class 'tuple'>

# Unpacking a tuple
>>> x, y, z = coordinates
>>> print(x, y, z)
10.5 20.7 30.9

3. Using the tuple() constructor

Python 3.13
# Creating an empty tuple
>>> empty_tuple = tuple()

# Converting a list to a tuple
>>> list_to_tuple = tuple([1, 2, 3])
>>> print(list_to_tuple)
(1, 2, 3)

# Converting a string to a tuple (each character becomes an element)
>>> string_to_tuple = tuple("Python")
>>> print(string_to_tuple)
('P', 'y', 't', 'h', 'o', 'n')

# Converting a set to a tuple
>>> set_to_tuple = tuple({1, 2, 3})
>>> print(set_to_tuple)
(1, 2, 3)

Accessing tuple elements

Accessing tuple elements is done the same way as in lists — through indices and slices:

Indexing

Python 3.13
>>> fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "date", "elderberry")

# Getting elements by index
>>> first_fruit = fruits[0]
>>> print(first_fruit)
apple

# Negative indices for accessing from the end of the tuple
>>> last_fruit = fruits[-1]
>>> print(last_fruit)
elderberry

Slices

Python 3.13
>>> fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "date", "elderberry")

# First three elements
>>> first_three = fruits[:3]
>>> print(first_three)
('apple', 'banana', 'cherry')

# From second to fourth
>>> middle = fruits[1:4]
>>> print(middle)
('banana', 'cherry', 'date')

# Reversing the tuple
>>> reversed_tuple = fruits[::-1]
>>> print(reversed_tuple)
('elderberry', 'date', 'cherry', 'banana', 'apple')

Tuple methods

Since tuples are immutable, they have only two methods:

Python 3.13
>>> fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "banana", "date")

# Counting the number of occurrences of an element
>>> banana_count = fruits.count("banana")
>>> print(banana_count)
2

# Finding the index of the first occurrence of an element
>>> banana_index = fruits.index("banana")
>>> print(banana_index)
1

Operations with tuples

Python 3.13
# Finding the length
>>> fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
>>> print(len(fruits))
3

# Checking if an element exists
>>> print("apple" in fruits)
True
>>> print("mango" in fruits)
False

# Concatenation (combining) tuples
>>> more_fruits = ("pear", "orange")
>>> all_fruits = fruits + more_fruits
>>> print(all_fruits)
('apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'pear', 'orange')

# Repetition
>>> repeated = fruits * 2
>>> print(repeated)
('apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'apple', 'banana', 'cherry')

# Unpacking
>>> a, b, c = fruits
>>> print(a, b, c)
apple banana cherry

Immutability of tuples

It's important to understand that the immutability of tuples means that after creating a tuple you cannot:

• Modify existing elements
• Add new elements
• Remove elements

Python 3.13
# Creating a tuple
>>> coordinates = (10.5, 20.7, 30.9)

# These operations will raise a TypeError:
# coordinates[0] = 15.0     # Cannot modify an element
# coordinates.append(40.2)  # No append method
# coordinates.remove(20.7)  # No remove method
# del coordinates[1]        # Cannot delete an element

# But you can create a new tuple based on an existing one
>>> new_coordinates = (15.0,) + coordinates[1:]
>>> print(new_coordinates)
(15.0, 20.7, 30.9)

Important note about nested mutable objects

Python 3.13
# Tuple containing a list
>>> tuple_with_list = (1, 2, [3, 4])

# This works because we're modifying the list inside the tuple
>>> tuple_with_list[2][0] = 30
>>> print(tuple_with_list)
(1, 2, [30, 4])

# But this will raise an error - cannot modify the tuple itself
# tuple_with_list[2] = [5, 6]  # TypeError

Practical examples of using tuples

1. Returning multiple values from functions

Python 3.13
>>> def get_user_info():
...     name = "Anna"
...     age = 30
...     is_admin = True
...     return name, age, is_admin

# Unpacking the result
>>> user_name, user_age, user_is_admin = get_user_info()
>>> print(f"Name: {user_name}, Age: {user_age}, Admin: {user_is_admin}")
Name: Anna, Age: 30, Admin: True

2. Fixed data

Python 3.13
# Days of the week - a perfect example of an immutable sequence
>>> DAYS_OF_WEEK = ("Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday")

# Usage
>>> today_index = 4  # Friday
>>> print(f"Today is {DAYS_OF_WEEK[today_index]}")
Today is Friday

Comparison of lists and tuples

Common mistakes when working with tuples

1. Forgotten comma in a single-element tuple

   Python 3.13
   # Incorrect (this is not a tuple, just a number in parentheses)
   >>> not_a_tuple = (42)
   >>> print(type(not_a_tuple))
   <class 'int'>
   
   # Correct
   >>> single_item_tuple = (42,)
   >>> print(type(single_item_tuple))
   <class 'tuple'>
   

2. Attempting to modify a tuple

   Python 3.13
   >>> coordinates = (10.5, 20.7, 30.9)
   
   # This will raise an error
   >>> try:
   ...     coordinates[0] = 15.0
   ... except TypeError as e:
   ...     print(f"Error: {e}")
   Error: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment
   

Understanding check

Which of the following statements about tuples in Python is true?