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When we make a list, we sometimes create it with the knowledge that we are not going to modify it again. For example, if we create a list of the numbers from 1 to 10, that list is not going to change unless our number system is overhauled. :)

From a Python perspective, in that case, instead of using a list, we can use a tuple instead. Tuples are similar to lists, except that they are immutable, meaning that they don’t have methods like append or remove. This property makes them less resource-intensive (more memory efficient) to handle than lists.

Creating a tuple is just like creating a list, except you replace brackets with parentheses:

t = (1, 2, 3)

One minor detail is that if you are creating a tuple with only one element, you still need a comma at the end so that Python properly interprets that you want to create a tuple:

s = (1,)

Indexing for tuples is exactly the same as with lists:

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

This will output:

4

Let’s practice what we have learned with tuples:

  • Create a tuple with the following elements: 23, "dog", and 5. (solution)

  • With your newly-created tuple, how would you print the 3rd element? (solution)

If you’re comfortable with tuple, you can move on to discussing set in the next lesson!