Split a tuple into multiple variables in Python

Split a tuple into multiple variables in Python #

Unpack the values to split a tuple into multiple variables, e.g. r, g, b = ('red', 'green', 'blue'). When unpacking, make sure to declare exactly as many variables as there are items in the iterable.

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r, g, b = ('red', 'green', 'blue')

print(r)  # 👉️ 'red'
print(g)  # 👉️ 'green'
print(b)  # 👉️ 'blue'

When unpacking from a tuple, each variable declaration counts for a single item.

Make sure to declare exactly as many variables as there are items in the tuple.

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r, g, b, y = ('red', 'green', 'blue', 'yellow')

print(r)  # 👉️ 'red'
print(g)  # 👉️ 'green'
print(b)  # 👉️ 'blue'
print(y)  # 👉️ 'yellow'

If you try to unpack more or less values than there are in the tuple, you would get an error.

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# ⛔️ ValueError: too many values to unpack (expected 2)
r, g = ('red', 'green', 'blue')

If you don't need to store a certain value, use an underscore for the variable's name.

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r, _, b = ('red', 'green', 'blue')


print(r)  # 👉️ 'red'
print(b)  # 👉️ 'blue'

When you use an underscore for a variable's name, you indicate to other developers that this variable is just a placeholder.

You can use as many underscores as necessary when unpacking values.

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r, _, _, y = ('red', 'green', 'blue', 'yellow')


print(r)  # 👉️ 'red'
print(y)  # 👉️ 'yellow'

This is needed because it's not valid syntax to have one comma after another.

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# ⛔️ SyntaxError: invalid syntax
r, , , y = ('red', 'green', 'blue', 'yellow')