Which of the following is a Python Tuple?

Which of the following is a Python Tuple?

A) [1, 2, 3]

B) (1, 2, 3) 

C) {1, 2, 3}

D) {}

The correct answer is option B: (1, 2, 3). Option B is correct because tuples use parentheses () to define the collection of elements. Tuples are useful when you want to store a sequence of items that cannot be modified after creation.

Table of Content

What is a tuple in Python?

Tuples are the most important part of data structure in Python. It follows an order and is an immutable collection of elements. Once a tuple is created, it cannot be changed, and the item in the collection will remain permanent. The tuples are identified by parentheses “().”

Let’s see an example for tuples in Python:

Tuple Example in Python

The below code will create a tuple, print its type, and the tuple’s elements.

# Creating a tuple

my_tuple = (10, 20, 30)

print(type(my_tuple)) 

print(my_tuple)

Output

Tuple Example in Python
ouput

Key characteristics of tuples

  • Ordered: The elements in a tuple have a defined order. These orders cannot be changed, as they are part of the tuple’s pre-defined structure.
  • Immutable: Once the dictionary is created and saved, Tuples will not let you change or modify its content, which will prevent the value from being robust.
  • Allow duplicates: Tuples can contain duplicate elements. These duplicate values will be stored in a defined order.

So, if this is the correct way of defining a tuple, then what do options A: [1, 2, 3], C: {1, 2, 3}, and D: {} mean?

We will discuss each of them one by one.

Option A is a LIST

Option  A:  [1, 2, 3]

Option A cannot be considered a tuple because tuples will have elements within parentheses “()” and not in square brackets []. The option A is a list.

A list is a collection of mutable items, which means that the items inside a list can be modified. Lists are always written in square brackets [].

Example of a List in Python

The below example, creates a list, prints its type, then modifies the list by adding an element 4 to the end, and finally prints the updated list.

# Creating a list

my_list = [1, 2, 3]

print(type(my_list))  

# Modifying a list

my_list.append(4)

print(my_list) 

Output

Example of a List in Python output

Option C is a SET

Option C {1, 2, 3}

Option C represents a set in Python, not a tuple. Tuples are defined using parentheses () and not curly braces {}.

A set is an unordered collection of unique items, meaning that duplicate elements are not allowed. A set in Python can be created using curly braces {} or the set() function.

Example for Set in Python

In the below example, this code creates a set my_set with unique elements, prints its type, and then prints the set {1, 2, 3, 4}.

# Creating a set

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 3, 4}

print(type(my_set)) 

print(my_set)

Output

Example for Set in Python output

OPTION D is an EMPTY DICTIONARY

Option D {}

Option D can be considered an empty dictionary because ‘{}’ cannot be an empty set because an empty set can only be created using “set{}.” So, without the function set, if there is any empty set, then it is considered an empty dictionary. 

An empty dictionary is a disordered collection of key-value pairs, and it does not contain any value.

Example of an empty dictionary in Python

This code below creates an empty set using the set() function and prints its type.

# Creating an empty set

empty_set = set()

print(type(empty_set))

Output

empty dictionary in Python output

Conclusion

Tuples are very important in the data structure of Python. It gives an immutable and ordered set of elements, which makes the data more efficient and enhances your programming skills. It is very useful while writing code due to its robustness and efficient code. Whether you’re returning multiple values from a function, storing fixed collections of data, or using tuples as dictionary keys, learning tuples will make you more proficient in the Python language. If you want to excel in your skills and pursue a career in Python, you can refer to the Intellipaat Python Programming course.

About the Author

Senior Consultant Analytics & Data Science

Sahil Mattoo, a Senior Software Engineer at Eli Lilly and Company, is an accomplished professional with 14 years of experience in languages such as Java, Python, and JavaScript. Sahil has a strong foundation in system architecture, database management, and API integration. 

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