Python Coding challenge - Day 215 | What is the output of the following Python Code?

 

Let's break down the code and understand what's happening step by step.

Code Breakdown:

a = (1, [2, 3], 4)

a[1].append(5)

print(a)

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Tuple Creation:

a = (1, [2, 3], 4)

Here, a is a tuple containing three elements: 1, [2, 3] (a list), and 4.

Tuples are immutable, meaning their elements cannot be changed directly. However, if a tuple contains a mutable object, like a list, the contents of that mutable object can be changed.

Modifying the List Inside the Tuple:

a[1].append(5)

a[1] accesses the second element of the tuple, which is the list [2, 3].

The append(5) method is called on this list, which modifies the list in place by adding 5 to the end.

After this operation, the list inside the tuple becomes [2, 3, 5].

Printing the Tuple:

print(a)

When print(a) is called, it prints the entire tuple.

The tuple now looks like this: (1, [2, 3, 5], 4).

Final Output:

The output of the code will be:

(1, [2, 3, 5], 4)

Detailed Explanation:

• Tuples are immutable: This means you cannot change, add, or remove elements directly in the tuple. However, if a tuple contains a mutable object (like a list), the contents of that object can be changed.
• Lists are mutable: Lists can be modified after their creation. You can add, remove, or change elements in a list.
• When a list inside a tuple is modified, the modification affects the list within the tuple. The tuple itself remains structurally unchanged, meaning the references it holds do not change, but the contents of the list referenced by the tuple can change.

This example illustrates the interplay between immutable and mutable types in Python and how modifying a mutable object within an immutable container affects the overall structure.