Python is a versatile programming language, widely used in a variety of fields like web development, machine learning, data science, and game creation. One of the powerful features of Python is its ability to return multiple values from a function. This tutorial will delve into this functionality, introducing the basics and showing practical code examples. By mastering this aspect of Python, you can not only write more efficient and clean code, but also open up new possibilities in your programming tasks. Whether you’re starting on your coding journey or an experienced coder looking to refine your skills, this tutorial offers valuable insights.
Table of contents
What Is ‘Return Multiple Values’ in Python?
In Python, ‘Return Multiple Values’ refers to the ability of a function to return more than one value upon its execution. These values can be of various data types like integers, floats, strings, lists, tuples, and more.
What Is It Used For?
This feature is used when you want to get more than one result from a function execution. Instead of writing separate functions for each output or complicating a function with multiple print statements, you can use this feature to make your code more concise and efficient.
Why Should You Learn It?
Learning how to return multiple values in Python can give your programming prowess a substantial boost. It not only makes your code more efficient, but also simplifies the process of debugging and maintenance. Especially in game creation and data manipulation tasks, this feature can be a powerful tool to enhance your productivity.
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How to Return Multiple Values in Python
Let’s start with the basics. To return multiple values from a function in Python, we use the return statement. We typically pack these multiple values inside a tuple, a list, or a dictionary and return it to the caller.
Here’s a basic example of a function using a tuple:
def func(): return 1, 2, 3 print(func())
The output will be:
(1, 2, 3)
Notice how the tuple is automatically formed without parentheses. This is known as tuple packing.
We can also use lists to return multiple values:
def func(): return [1, 2, 3] print(func())
The output will be:
[1, 2, 3]
Just like with tuples, we can pack multiple values into a list and return it.
Unpacking Values Returned from a Function
When we receive multiple values from a function, we can assign them separately using a process known as ‘unpacking’. Let’s take a look:
def func(): return 1, 2, 3 a, b, c = func() print(a, b, c)
The output will be:
1 2 3
As you see, the returned tuple (1, 2, 3) has been ‘unpacked’ into variables a, b, and c.
Returning Multiple Values using Dictionaries
Sometimes, it’s more efficient to return values in a dictionary, especially when the function returns many values. Let’s see an example:
def func():
return {'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3}
result = func()
print(result)The output will be:
{'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3}As you can see, we can return key-value pairs for more complicated scenarios.
Named Tuple for Clearer Returns
For enhancing readability, Python offers named tuples. Named tuples are tuples that allow you to access its elements via named attributes.
from collections import namedtuple
def func():
Person = namedtuple('Person', 'name age')
return Person(name='John', age=30)
p = func()
print(p.name)
print(p.age)The output will be:
John 30
The function returns a Person object that has attributes name and age. This greatly enhances readability when we are dealing with complex returns.
Combining Tuples, Lists, and Dictionaries
One great aspect of Python is that you can combine different data types for returning multiple values. Let’s see an example:
def func():
return [1, 2], {3, 4}, {'five': 5, 'six': 6}
a, b, c = func()
print(a)
print(b)
print(c)The output will be:
[1, 2]
{3, 4}
{'five': 5, 'six': 6}You can see that our function has returned a list, a set, and a dictionary. We are not limited to returning just one type of data structure.
Returning Functions
Python also allows you to return functions from a function. This opens up a world of possibilities for function composition and functional programming.
def greet(name):
def greeting():
return f"Hello, {name}!"
return greeting
hello_func = greet('John')
print(hello_func())The output will be:
Hello, John!
The function greet returns another function greeting which when called prints out a greeting message. This technique can be very powerful in complex programming tasks.
Null Returns
What happens when a function does not explicitly return a value? Python, by default, returns None.
def func():
pass
print(func())The output will be:
None
If we don’t specify a return value, Python returns None. Keep this in mind when designing your functions.
Conclusion
As you can see, Python’s flexibility presents various methods to return multiple values, empowering developers to write cleaner, more efficient code. The methods demonstrated in this tutorial are just a starting point. We encourage you to explore different ways to utilize multiple returns in your programming adventures.
Where to Go Next
By now, you should have a good grasp of returning multiple values in Python. But remember, mastering programming is a journey of continuous learning and practice. To really hone your skills, it’s important to delve deep into the basics and explore the advanced functionalities.
How to Continue Learning?
One excellent way to continue with your Python journey is to check out our Python Mini-Degree. It’s a comprehensive collection of courses designed to teach Python programming from the ground up. You’ll learn coding basics, algorithms, object-oriented programming, game development, and app development, all while using Python.
The mini-degree familiarizes you with popular libraries and frameworks like Pygame, Tkinter, Kivy, and PySimpleGUI. These courses are designed with both beginners and experienced programmers in mind, with project-based assignments and flexible learning options.
We systematically cover all aspects of Python, preparing you for a vast range of applications – whether you want to venture into data science, game creation, or web development. And with Python being such a highly sought-after programming language, this could open up numerous job opportunities in various industries.
Furthermore, we regularly update our courses to keep them relevant with the latest industry trends. We provide a self-paced learning environment and expert mentor support to make your learning experience as enriching as possible.
Completing the courses will not only help you develop new skills, but also build a professional portfolio that could potentially change your career trajectory or be the foundation of your own business.
For an even broader collection of Python resources and ongoing learning, check out our complete range of Python courses on Zenva Academy.
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Conclusion
Diving into the intricacies of Python, such as returning multiple values, sharpens your programming skills and enables you to write more efficient and cleaner code. More importantly, it arms you with the knowledge to tackle real-world programming challenges across various fields, from web development, game creation, to data analysis, and more.
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