How to unpack a tuple in Python

By Anish

In this tutorial, we will learn how to unpack a tuple in Python.

In Python, tuples are similar to lists and are declared by parenthesis/round brackets. Tuples are used to store immutable objects. As a result, they cannot be modified or changed throughout the program.

Unpacking a Tuple in Python

While unpacking a tuple, Python maps right-hand side arguments into the left-hand side. In other words, during unpacking, we extract values from the tuple and put them into normal variables.

Let us see an example,

a = ("Harry Potter",15,500)    #PACKING

(book, no_of_chapters, no_of_pages) = a     #UNPACKING

print(book)
print(no_of_chapters)
print(no_of_pages)

 

Output:

Harry Potter
15
500

Also, note that the number of variables on the right as well as the left-hand side should be equal.

If we want to map a group of arguments into a single variable, there is a special syntax available called (*args). This means that there are a number of arguments present in (*args). All values will be assigned in order of specification with the remaining being assigned to (*args).

This can be understood by the following code,

a, *b, c = (10, 20 ,30 ,40 ,50)

print(a)
print(*b)
print(c)

 

Output:

10
20 30 40
50

So, we see that ‘a’ and ‘c’ are assigned the first and last value whereas, *b is assigned with all the in-between values.

Unpacking can also be done with the help of a function. A tuple can be passed in a function and unpacked as a normal variable.

This is made simpler to understand by the following code,

def sum1(a, b):
    return a + b
print(sum1(10, 20)) #normal variables used


t = (10, 20)

print(sum1(*t))   #Tuple is passed in function

Output:

30
30

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