Data Structures14 min read
Tuple Essentials
Understand tuples clearly: why immutability matters, where tuples are better than lists, and how packing/unpacking works with real examples.
David Miller
December 12, 2025
1.7k65
A tuple is like a list, but immutable (cannot be changed).
When to use tuples
Use tuples when:
- data should not change (like coordinates)
- you want safer code (no accidental edits)
- you want to return multiple values from a function
Create tuples
point = (10, 20)
user = ("Tom", 25, "Austin")
Single-item tuple (common beginner confusion)
x = (5) # this is int, not tuple
y = (5,) # this is tuple
Access items
point = (10, 20)
print(point[0]) # 10
Tuple unpacking (very important)
person = ("Sarah", 28)
name, age = person
print(name, age)
Why immutability is useful
If you store config settings, you don’t want changes by mistake.
CONFIG = ("localhost", 5432)
# CONFIG[0] = "prod" # error, cannot change
Graph: list vs tuple
flowchart LR
A[List] --> B[Mutable: can change]
C[Tuple] --> D[Immutable: cannot change]
Remember
- Tuples are ordered but immutable
- Great for fixed data
- Unpacking is a powerful Python skill
#Python#Beginner#Tuple