TUPLE Meaning and
Definition
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A tuple is a fundamental data structure in computer science and programming languages. It refers to an ordered collection or sequence of elements that can contain objects or values of different types. A tuple can be considered as an immutable list in which each element is referred to by its index.
Unlike lists, tuples cannot be modified once they are created. This immutability property makes tuples useful in scenarios where the data needs to remain unchanged or be protected from unintentional modifications. Tuples are often employed to group related data elements or to represent multiple values that are closely associated or logically related.
Each element within a tuple can be of any data type, including integers, floating-point numbers, strings, or even other tuples. The elements are enclosed within parentheses, and they can be accessed using indexing or slicing techniques. The index of the first element in a tuple is 0, and consecutive elements can be accessed by incrementing the index.
Tuples provide a convenient way to return multiple values from a function or method. They are also advantageous in scenarios where the order of the elements is significant and should not be altered. Tuples are extensively used in various programming languages, such as Python, to handle data structures and facilitate efficient programming and data manipulation.
Common Misspellings for TUPLE
Etymology of TUPLE
The word "tuple" originates from the mathematics field, specifically from set theory and mathematical logic. It was first introduced by the American mathematician and logician, Walther Wilhelm Rossbach, in the late 19th century. The term "tuple" comes from the Latin word "tuplus", which means "having three parts".
In mathematics, a tuple refers to an ordered list of elements. The usage of tuples expanded beyond mathematics and found its way into computer science, particularly in programming languages like Lisp, Perl, Python, and SQL.
