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Tuples

🟨🐍 Technique Card: Python Tuples

🧠 What This Teaches

How to create and use tuples in Python, how they're different from lists, and when you might want to use them.

🧰 You Will Use

  • () round brackets
  • Index numbers starting from 0
  • Tuple unpacking
  • .count() and .index() methods

🧱 What is a Tuple?

A tuple is like a list — it holds a group of items.
But unlike a list, a tuple cannot be changed (we say it's immutable).

fruit_tuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
  • Items in a tuple are ordered
  • You can access them just like a list:
print(fruit_tuple[1])  # banana

🔒 Why Use a Tuple Instead of a List?

Think of a tuple like a sealed box. Once you put things in, no one can change what’s inside. This is helpful when:

  • ✅ You want to protect your data so no one (even you!) changes it by accident.
  • ✅ You’re sending or using fixed info, like coordinates, colours, settings, or labels.
  • ✅ You want your code to run a little faster – Python can deal with tuples more quickly than lists.
  • ✅ You’re using dictionary keys – only unchangeable things like strings and tuples can be used as keys.

🧠 Imagine:
You’re storing a list of favourite numbers. But if that list should never change once chosen, using a tuple makes sure it stays safe and locked.

favourites = (3, 7, 42)

🧠 Common Use Cases

✅ Grouping coordinates:

position = (10, 20)

✅ Returning multiple values from a function:

def get_info():
    return ("Alice", 10)

name, age = get_info()

✅ Pairing data in a fixed structure:

pair = ("dog", "bark")

🚫 Tuples Can't Be Changed

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)
my_tuple[0] = 99  # ❌ This will give an error!

💡 Tuple Tricks

Tuple with one item:

lonely = ("single",)  # Don't forget the comma!

Use tuple() to convert a list:

nums = [1, 2, 3]
nums_tuple = tuple(nums)

🧮 Methods You Can Use

example = ("apple", "banana", "apple")

print(example.count("apple"))  # 2
print(example.index("banana")) # 1

🎲 Practise!

Try these:

weather_today = ("sunny", 20)
print("Today it is", weather_today[0], "and", weather_today[1], "degrees.")

Or create a list of city-weather tuples!

cities = [("London", 15), ("Paris", 18), ("Oslo", 10)]

🔗 Linked Cards

Watch the video