CodeBlanks Logo Icon CodeBlanks
Login Register

Multiple assignment

Learn multiple assignment with a, b = 1, 2.

Multiple assignment

Python can assign values to several variables in one line. This is called multiple assignment:

a, b, c = 1, 2, 3

The right side is a tuple, the left side is a list of names. Python matches each variable in order: a=1, b=2, c=3.

This is shorter than assigning each variable on its own line. But to keep code readable, avoid more than 3-4 variables on one line.

Tuple unpacking

Under multiple assignment lies tuple unpacking. The values on the right first form a tuple, then the left side unpacks it.

point = (10, 20)
x, y = point

Here point is a tuple; x, y = point splits it into two variables. The number of variables must match the tuple length, or Python raises an error.

Practice Print with multiple assignment

Do a multiple assignment with x, y = 10, 20. Then print their sum with print(x + y).

Starter code

main.py
# Do the multiple assignment

Sample solution

main.py
x, y = 10, 20
print(x + y)

Expected output

30

Questions and answers

Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.

1 Assign to a and b

Question 
a, b ____ 1, 2
Answer 
a, b = 1, 2

Explanation: a, b = 1, 2 is a multiple assignment.

2 After a, b, c = 1, 2, 3 what is b?

  • 2 Correct answer
  • 1
  • 3
  • It raises an error

Explanation: b takes the second value: 2.

3 Match the concepts

Term Meaning
= Assignment
a, b = 1, 2 Multiple assignment
type(x) Learn the type
age = 25 Single variable assignment

All lessons in Beginner

1 Python basics

  1. What is Python?
  2. REPL and print
  3. Comments
  4. Indentation blocks
  5. python -c and scripts
  6. Summary - Python basics

2 Variables

  1. Variable assignment
  2. Multiple assignment
  3. Naming variables
  4. id and type
  5. Swapping variables
  6. Summary - Variables

3 Data types

  1. int and float
  2. bool
  3. str basics
  4. None
  5. Type conversion
  6. Summary - Data types

4 Project: Calculator

  1. Project design
  2. Add/subtract
  3. Multiply/divide
  4. Error handling
  5. Putting it together

5 Operators

  1. Arithmetic
  2. Comparison
  3. Logical
  4. Bitwise
  5. Membership and identity
  6. Summary - Operators

6 String basics

  1. f-string
  2. Concatenation
  3. str.format
  4. Raw strings
  5. Triple-quote
  6. Summary - String basics

7 Conditionals

  1. The if statement
  2. elif and else
  3. Nested if
  4. Truthiness
  5. Conditional expression
  6. Summary - Conditionals

8 Loops

  1. The for loop
  2. range
  3. The while loop
  4. break and continue
  5. Loop else
  6. Summary - Loops

9 Project: Shopping cart

  1. Cart design
  2. Adding items
  3. Calculating totals
  4. Updating quantity
  5. Putting it together

10 Lists

  1. Declaring lists
  2. Index and slice
  3. List methods
  4. in and count
  5. Sorting lists
  6. Summary - Lists

11 List comprehension

  1. Comprehension basics
  2. Filtered comprehension
  3. Dict and set comprehension
  4. Nested comprehension
  5. Generator expression
  6. Summary - List comprehension

12 Tuple, set and dict

  1. Tuple
  2. Set
  3. Dict basics
  4. Dict methods
  5. Dict comprehension
  6. Summary - Tuple, set and dict

13 Functions

  1. def
  2. return
  3. Docstring
  4. Default parameters
  5. *args and **kwargs
  6. Summary - Functions

14 Function parameters

  1. Positional parameters
  2. Keyword parameters
  3. Keyword-only
  4. Positional-only
  5. Type hints basics
  6. Summary - Function parameters

15 Project: To-do CLI

  1. Task model
  2. Adding tasks
  3. Listing tasks
  4. Completing tasks
  5. Putting it together

16 Advanced string methods

  1. split and join
  2. strip, lstrip, rstrip
  3. replace
  4. find and index
  5. startswith, endswith
  6. Summary - Advanced strings

17 Input and output

  1. input()
  2. int/float conversion
  3. print parameters
  4. f-string formatting
  5. sys.argv
  6. Summary - Input and output

18 Error handling

  1. try/except
  2. else and finally
  3. raise
  4. Exception hierarchy
  5. Custom exceptions
  6. Summary - Error handling

19 Modules

  1. import
  2. from import
  3. as alias
  4. __name__ == '__main__'
  5. Standard library
  6. Summary - Modules

20 Beginner final

  1. Project design
  2. Data model
  3. Business logic
  4. Error handling
  5. Putting it together