In our journey so far, we have seen Python tuples, which is an important container type. Today, we will talk about Python namedtuple with its example & syntax.<\/p>\n
Moreover, we will start our learning with a quick revision of Python tuples and Accessing Elements of Python namedtuple. At last, we will cover the working and benefits of Python namedtuple.<\/p>\n
So, let’s start the Python Namedtuple Tutorial.<\/p>\n
Before we proceed, we think we must review tuples in Python.<\/p>\n
A Python tuple is a container that can hold different values. Let\u2019s take an example.<\/p>\n
>>> colors=(255,0,0)<\/pre>\nAs you can see, we define it using parentheses. To access an element, we use indices. (And remember, indexing starts at 0)<\/p>\n
>>> colors[0]<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
255<\/div>\nWhat makes a >>> colors[0] Python tuple unique is that its values cannot be changed, i.e., it is immutable.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s try changing a value.<\/p>\n
>>> colors[1]=10<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTraceback (most recent call last):File “<pyshell#316>”, line 1, in <module> c<\/p>\n
olors[1]=10<\/p>\n
TypeError: ‘tuple’ object does not support item assignment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Now that we\u2019ve taken a quick revision at tuples, let’s proceed to Python syntax.<\/p>\n
Python Namedtuple – Syntax<\/h3>\n
A Python namedtuple lets us access elements in a tuple using names\/labels. To define it, we import namedtuple from the Python collections module and use the namedtuple() factory function.<\/p>\n
Operations that can be done by using namedtuple in Python are:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
- Create a nametuple.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Access operations:<\/strong> If you want to access a field, namedtuple provides you with a simple way.<\/li>\n
- Conversion operation:<\/strong> They provide you with a useful operation that works with other data in Python.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
>>> from collections import namedtuple\r\n>>> Colors=namedtuple('Colors','red green blue')<\/pre>\nHere, we use the function namedtuple().<\/p>\n
>>> type(namedtuple)<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<class ‘function’><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This takes two arguments-<\/p>\n
\n
- Tuple name- Here, Colors is the tuple<\/li>\n
- Python string of fields, separated by spaces- Here, we have three fields: red, green, and blue.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Now, let\u2019s define some Python tuples.<\/p>\n
>>> red=Colors(red=255,green=0,blue=0)\r\n>>> green=Colors(red=0,green=255,blue=0)\r\n>>> blue=Colors(red=0,green=0,blue=255)\r\n>>> red<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nColors(red=255, green=0, blue=0)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
We\u2019ll just leave here another way to define a Python namedtuple- using a list instead of a string of fields.<\/p>\n
>>> pets=namedtuple('pets',['name','age'])\r\n>>> Fluffy=pets('Fluffy',8)\r\n>>> Fluffy<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\npets(name=’Fluffy’, age=8)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Accessing Elements in a Python Namedtuple<\/h3>\n
To access an item, we can now use the dot operator to access a field by its name. We do it this way:<\/p>\n
>>> red.red<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n255<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
>>> red.green<\/pre>\n>>> red.blue<\/pre>\nSee how simple it makes this? This way, a namedtuple is something like a Python dictionary.<\/p>\n
But really, Python namedtuple is backward-compatible with a regular Python tuple. This means that we can access a value using indexing as well.<\/p>\n
>>> red[0]<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n255<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
>>> red[1]<\/pre>\nFinally, you can also access a value using the getattr() function.<\/p>\n
>>> getattr(red,'green')<\/pre>\nTo see what kind of Python objects these are, we use the type() function, like we always do.<\/p>\n
>>> type(Colors)<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<class ‘type’><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
>>> type(red)<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<class ‘__main__.Colors’><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
>>> type(red.red)<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<class ‘int’><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
How Namedtuple in Python Works?<\/h3>\n
Let\u2019s see some more things we can do with a namedtuple in Python.<\/p>\n
1. A Python namedtuple is Immutable<\/h4>\n
Like its regular counterpart, a Python namedtuple is immutable. We can\u2019t change its attributes.<\/p>\n
To prove this, we\u2019ll try changing one of the attributes of a tuple of type \u2018Colors\u2019.<\/p>\n
>>> red.blue=1<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTraceback (most recent call last):File “<pyshell#319>”, line 1, in <module><\/p>\n
red.blue=1<\/p>\n
AttributeError: can’t set attribute<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As is visible, it raises an AttributeError. Hence, we conclude that a Python namedtuple is immutable.<\/p>\n
2. Converting a Python namedtuple into a Python Dictionary<\/h4>\n
A namedtuple in Python is much like a dictionary, but if we want to convert it into one, we can:<\/p>\n
>>> red._asdict()<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOrderedDict([(‘red’, 255), (‘green’, 0), (‘blue’, 0)])<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As you can see, we use the ._asdict() function for this. Also, this gives us a Python OrderedDict.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll see that in detail in its own lesson.<\/p>\n
3. Creating a namedtuple from a Python Iterable<\/h4>\n
If you have a Python list, you can make a namedtuple from it. But for this, you must have defined the format.<\/p>\n
>>> Colors._make(['Purple','Violet','Gold'])<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
Colors(red=’Purple’, green=’Violet’, blue=’Gold’)<\/div>\n4. Converting a Python Dictionary into a namedtuple<\/h4>\n
CoA converses what we learned in point b, we can turn a dictionary into a namedtuple in Python.<\/p>\n
We do this using two asterisks before the dictionary to be passed as an argument to Colors here.<\/p>\n
>>> Colors(**{'red':255,'green':0,'blue':0})<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nColors(red=255, green=0, blue=0)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
5. Checking what fields belong to a Python tuple<\/h4>\n
For this, we use the _fields attribute.<\/p>\n
>>> red._fields<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n(‘red’, ‘green’, ‘blue’)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
6. Changing a Value<\/h4>\n
Yes, a namedtuple\u2019s attributes are immutable. But we can use the _replace() function to change them.<\/p>\n
>>> red._replace(green=1)<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nColors(red=255, green=1, blue=0)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Benefits of Python Namedtuple<\/h3>\n
Of course, no one would be using these if they observed no benefits at all. So, here we go:
\n1. Unlike a regular tuple, Python namedtuple can also access values using the names of the fields.<\/p>\n>>> red.red<\/pre>\nOutput<\/strong><\/p>\n
255<\/div>\n2. Python namedtuple is just as memory-efficient as a regular tuple, because it does not have per-instance dictionaries. This is also why it is faster than a dictionary.<\/p>\n
Python Interview Questions on Namedtuple<\/h3>\n
1. What is a Namedtuple in Python?<\/p>\n
2. How does Namedtuple work in Python?<\/p>\n
3. What does Namedtuple return in Python?<\/p>\n
4. How do you create a Namedtuple in Python?<\/p>\n
5. Is Namedtuple immutable?<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n
Today, we learned about Python namedtuple. It is just like a regular tuple, apart from the fact that it can also access fields through their names. namedtuple builds lightweight classes with named fields, giving tuple speed and memory perks yet dot access clarity.<\/p>\n
This is easy on the programmer. It is also more memory-efficient than a dictionary.<\/p>\n
Next, we will discuss some more functions from the collections module. Till give us your valuable feedback.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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