Python list vs tuple

In this tutorial, we will learn about the difference between python lists and tuples.

Python Lists and tuples are used to store series of values and objects in a ordered way. Values can accessed using the index.

What is mutable data type

In python, mutable data types are whose values can be changed after they are declared. List, Dictionary and Set are mutable data type.

What is immutable data type

In Python, immutable data types are whose values cannot be changed once they are declared. Python Tuple, Integer, Float, String are immutable data type.

List syntax

List is declared by using [] square bracket

l = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Tuple syntax

Tuple is declared by using () bracket

t = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Accessing the values inside list and tuple using index

l = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(l[0])

t = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(t[0])

Output

1
1

Accessing the values inside list and tuple using slicing

l = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(l[0:2])

t = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(t[0:2])

Output

[1, 2]
(1, 2)

Update the values inside list and tuple

l = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

l[0] = 100
print(l)

t = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

t[0] = 100
print(t)

Output

[100, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<string>", line 6, in <module>
TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

You can see in the above output, value update to the list is working find but when updating a value in tuple it throws an exception error says that 'tuple' object does not support item assignment.

Python update a list value inside a tuple

t = ([1, 2, 3, 4, 5], 2, 3, 4, 5)

t[0][1] = 200
print(t)

Output

([1, 200, 3, 4, 5], 2, 3, 4, 5)

You can see in the above example output, python will allow to update a list value inside a tuple, because the inner value is under list data type which is mutable.

But it will not allow to update the entire value.

t = ([1, 2, 3, 4, 5], 2, 3, 4, 5)
t[0] = 100
print(t)

Output

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 2, in <module>
TypeError: 'tuple' object does not support item assignment

Python List	Python Tuple
Use square brackets []	Use parentheses ()
List is mutable	Tuple is immutable
List use more memory	Tuple use less memory compared to list
List will take more time while iteration	Tuple will take less time while iteration compared to list
Build in method support	No Build in method support
Can contain different data type values inside	Can contain different data type values inside

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