# Unpacking and Multiple Assignment



Unpacking refers to the act of extracting the elements of a collection, such as a `list`, `tuple`, or `dict`, using iteration.

Unpacked values can then be assigned to variables within the same statement.

A very common example of this behavior is `for item in list`, where `item` takes on the value of each `list` element in turn throughout the iteration.



[Multiple assignment][multiple assignment] is the ability to assign multiple variables to unpacked values within one statement.

This allows for code to be more concise and readable, and is done by separating the variables to be assigned with a comma such as `first, second, third = (1,2,3)` or `for index, item in enumerate(iterable)`.



The special operators `*` and `**` are often used in unpacking contexts.

`*` can be used to combine multiple `lists`/`tuples` into one `list`/`tuple` by _unpacking_ each into a new common `list`/`tuple`.

`**` can be used to combine multiple dictionaries into one dictionary by _unpacking_ each into a new common `dict`.



When the `*` operator is used without a collection, it _packs_ a number of values into a `list`.

This is often used in multiple assignment to group all "leftover" elements that do not have individual assignments into a single variable.



It is common in Python to also exploit this unpacking/packing behavior when using or defining functions that take an arbitrary number of positional or keyword arguments.

You will often see these "special" parameters defined as `def some_function(*args, **kwargs)` and the "special" arguments used as `some_function(*some_tuple, **some_dict)`.



~~~~exercism/caution

`*<variable_name>` and `**<variable_name>` should not be confused with `*` and `**`. While `*` and `**` are used for multiplication and exponentiation respectively, `*<variable_name>` and `**<variable_name>` are used as packing and unpacking operators.

~~~~



## Multiple assignment



In multiple assignment, the number of variables on the left side of the assignment operator (`=`) must match the number of values on the right side.

To separate the values, use a comma `,`:



```python

>>> a, b = 1, 2

>>> a

1

```



If the multiple assignment gets an incorrect number of variables for the values given, a `ValueError` will be thrown:



```python

>>> x, y, z = 1, 2



ValueError: too many values to unpack (expected 3, got 2)

```



Multiple assignment is not limited to one data type:



```python

>>> x, y, z = 1, "Hello", True

>>> x

1



>>> y

'Hello'



>>> z

True

```



Multiple assignment can be used to swap elements in `lists`.

This practice is pretty common in [sorting algorithms][sorting algorithms].

For example:



```python

>>> numbers = [1, 2]

>>> numbers[0], numbers[1] = numbers[1], numbers[0]

>>> numbers

[2, 1]

```



Since `tuples` are immutable, you can't swap elements in a `tuple`.



## Unpacking



~~~~exercism/note

The examples below use `lists` but the same concepts apply to `tuples`.

~~~~



In Python, it is possible to [unpack the elements of `list`/`tuple`/`dictionary`][unpacking] into distinct variables.

Since values appear within `lists`/`tuples` in a specific order, they are unpacked into variables in the same order:



```python

>>> fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

>>> x, y, z = fruits

>>> x

"apple"

```



If there are values that are not needed then you can use `_` to flag them:



```python

>>> fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

>>> _, _, z = fruits

>>> z

"cherry"

```



### Deep unpacking



Unpacking and assigning values from a `list`/`tuple` inside of a `list` or `tuple` (_also known as nested lists/tuples_), works in the same way a shallow unpacking does, but often needs qualifiers to clarify the values context or position:



```python

>>> fruits_vegetables = [["apple", "banana"], ["carrot", "potato"]]

>>> [[a, b], [c, d]] = fruits_vegetables

>>> a

"apple"



>>> d

"potato"

```



You can also deeply unpack just a portion of a nested `list`/`tuple`:



```python

>>> fruits_vegetables = [["apple", "banana"], ["carrot", "potato"]]

>>> [a, [c, d]] = fruits_vegetables

>>> a

["apple", "banana"]



>>> c

"carrot"

```



If the unpacking has variables with incorrect placement and/or an incorrect number of values, you will get a `ValueError`:



```python

>>> fruits_vegetables = [["apple", "banana"], ["carrot", "potato"]]

>>> [[a, b], [d]] = fruits_vegetables



ValueError: too many values to unpack (expected 1)

```



### Unpacking a list/tuple with `*`



When [unpacking a `list`/`tuple`][packing and unpacking] you can use the `*` operator to capture "leftover" values.

This is clearer than slicing the `list`/`tuple` (_which in some situations is less readable_).

For example, we can extract the first element and pack the remaining values into a new `list` without the first element:



```python

>>> fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]

>>> x, *last = fruits

>>> x

"apple"



>>> last

["banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]

```



We can also extract the values at the beginning and end of the `list` while grouping all the values in the middle:



```python

>>> fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]

>>> x, *middle, y, z = fruits

>>> y

"melon"



>>> middle

["banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi"]

```



We can also use `*` in deep unpacking:



```python

>>> fruits_vegetables = [["apple", "banana", "melon"], ["carrot", "potato", "tomato"]]

>>> [[a, *rest], b] = fruits_vegetables

>>> a

"apple"



>>> rest

["banana", "melon"]

```



### Unpacking a dictionary



[Unpacking a dictionary][packing and unpacking] is a bit different from unpacking a `list`/`tuple`.

Iteration over dictionaries defaults to the **keys**.

So when unpacking a `dict`, you can only unpack the **keys** and not the **values**:



```python

>>> fruits_inventory = {"apple": 6, "banana": 2, "cherry": 3}

>>> x, y, z = fruits_inventory

>>> x

"apple"

```



If you want to unpack the values then you can use the `<dict>.values()` method:



```python

>>> fruits_inventory = {"apple": 6, "banana": 2, "cherry": 3}

>>> x, y, z = fruits_inventory.values()

>>> x

6

```



If both **keys** and **values** are needed, use the [`<dict>.items()`][items] method.

`<dict>.items()` generates an [iterable view][view-objects] containing **key-value** pairs.

These can be unpacked into a `tuple`:



```python

>>> fruits_inventory = {"apple": 6, "banana": 2, "cherry": 3}

>>> x, y, z = fruits_inventory.items()

>>> x

("apple", 6)

```



## Packing



[Packing][packing and unpacking] is the ability to group multiple values into one `list` that is assigned to a variable.

This is useful when you want to _unpack_ values, make changes, and then _pack_ the results back into a variable.

It also makes it possible to perform merges on 2 or more `lists`/`tuples`/`dicts`.



### Packing a list/tuple with `*`



Packing a `list`/`tuple` can be done using the `*` operator.

This will pack all the values into a `list`/`tuple`.



```python

>>> fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")

>>> more_fruits = ["orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango"]



# fruits and more_fruits are unpacked and then their elements are packed into combined_fruits

>>> combined_fruits = *fruits, *more_fruits



# If there is no * on to the left of the "=" the result is a tuple

>>> combined_fruits

("apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango")



# If the * operator is used on the left side of "=" the result is a list.

# Note the trailing comma. 

>>> *combined_fruits_too, = *fruits, *more_fruits

>>> combined_fruits_too

['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'orange', 'kiwi', 'melon', 'mango']



# A list literal can be used instead, but might not be as readable.

>>> [*combined_fruits_too] = *fruits, *more_fruits

>>> combined_fruits_too

['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'orange', 'kiwi', 'melon', 'mango']

```



For more details on the use of `*` and `**`, check out [PEP 3132][pep-3132] and [PEP 448][pep-448].



### Packing a dictionary with `**`



Packing a dictionary is done by using the `**` operator.

This will pack all **key**-**value** pairs from one dictionary into another dictionary, or combine two dictionaries together.



```python

>>> fruits_inventory = {"apple": 6, "banana": 2, "cherry": 3}

>>> more_fruits_inventory = {"orange": 4, "kiwi": 1, "melon": 2, "mango": 3}



# fruits_inventory and more_fruits_inventory are unpacked into key-values pairs and combined.

>>> combined_fruits_inventory = {**fruits_inventory, **more_fruits_inventory}



# then the pairs are packed into combined_fruits_inventory

>>> combined_fruits_inventory

{"apple": 6, "banana": 2, "cherry": 3, "orange": 4, "kiwi": 1, "melon": 2, "mango": 3}

```



## Usage of `*` and `**` with functions



### Packing with function parameters



When you create a function that accepts an arbitrary number of arguments, you can use [`*args` or `**kwargs`][args and kwargs] in the function definition.

`*args` is used to pack an arbitrary number of positional (non-keyworded) arguments and

`**kwargs` is used to pack an arbitrary number of keyword arguments.



Usage of `*args`:



```python

# This function is defined to take any number of positional arguments



>>> def my_function(*args):

...   print(args)



# Arguments given to the function are packed into a tuple



>>> my_function(1, 2, 3)

(1, 2, 3)



>>> my_function("Hello")

("Hello")



>>> my_function(1, 2, 3, "Hello", "Mars")

(1, 2, 3, "Hello", "Mars")

```



Usage of `**kwargs`:



```python

# This function is defined to take any number of keyword arguments



>>> def my_function(**kwargs):

...   print(kwargs)



# Arguments given to the function are packed into a dictionary



>>> my_function(a=1, b=2, c=3)

{"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3}

```



`*args` and `**kwargs` can also be used in combination with one another:



```python

>>> def my_function(*args, **kwargs):

...   print(sum(args))

...   for key, value in kwargs.items():

...       print(str(key) + " = " + str(value))



>>> my_function(1, 2, 3, a=1, b=2, c=3)

6

a = 1

b = 2

c = 3

```



You can also write parameters before `*args` to allow for specific positional arguments.

Individual keyword arguments then have to appear before `**kwargs`.



~~~~exercism/caution

[Arguments have to be structured](https://www.python-engineer.com/courses/advancedpython/18-function-arguments/) like this:



`def my_function(<positional_args>, *args, <key-word_args>, **kwargs)`



If you don't follow this order then you will get an error.

~~~~



```python

>>> def my_function(a, b, *args):

...   print(a)

...   print(b)

...   print(args)



>>> my_function(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

1

2

(3, 4, 5)

```



Writing arguments in an incorrect order will result in an error:



```python

>>> def my_function(*args, a, b):

...   print(args)



>>>my_function(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "c:\something.py", line 3, in <module>

    my_function(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

TypeError: my_function() missing 2 required keyword-only arguments: 'a' and 'b'

```



### Unpacking into function calls



You can use `*` to unpack a `list`/`tuple` of arguments into a function call.

This is very useful for functions that don't accept an `iterable`:



```python

>>> def my_function(a, b, c):

...   print(c)

...   print(b)

...   print(a)



numbers = [1, 2, 3]

>>> my_function(*numbers)

3

2

1

```



Using `*` unpacking with the `zip()` function is another common use case.

Since `zip()` takes multiple iterables and returns a `list` of `tuples` with the values from each `iterable` grouped:



```python

>>> values = (['x', 'y', 'z'], [1, 2, 3], [True, False, True])

>>> a, *rest = zip(*values)

>>> rest

[('y', 2, False), ('z', 3, True)]

```



[args and kwargs]: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/args-kwargs-python/

[items]: https://docs.python.org/3/library/stdtypes.html#dict.items

[multiple assignment]: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/assigning-multiple-variables-in-one-line-in-python/

[packing and unpacking]: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/packing-and-unpacking-arguments-in-python/

[pep-448]: https://peps.python.org/pep-0448/

[pep-3132]: https://peps.python.org/pep-3132/

[sorting algorithms]: https://realpython.com/sorting-algorithms-python/

[unpacking]: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/unpacking-arguments-in-python/?ref=rp

[view-objects]: https://docs.python.org/3/library/stdtypes.html#dict-views

