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Assign list items to variables
In an assignment, Python unpacks the iterable on the right and assigns its elements to the targets on the left in order:
values = [10, 20]
first, second = values
# first == 10
# second == 20
This is called iterable unpacking: the right side does not have to be a list, but it must provide the required number of items. The Python Language Reference describes assignment unpacking and its target rules.
Commas make the targets an unpacking sequence. Parentheses or square brackets can group them, but are not required:
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first, second = values
(first, second) = values
[first, second] = values
Each form assigns the same two items from left to right.
Handle a variable number of items with *
Put a single starred target in the assignment to collect the items left over after the other targets receive their values. The starred target always receives a list, including when there are no remaining items.
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values = [10, 20, 30, 40]
first, *middle, last = values
# first == 10
# middle == [20, 30]
# last == 40
The starred target can be at the beginning, middle, or end:
*head, last = [10, 20, 30]
# head == [10, 20]; last == 30
first, *tail = [10]
# first == 10; tail == []
Every non-starred target still needs an item. For example, first, *tail, last = [10] fails because there is no item for last. The Python Language Reference specifies that the remaining items go into a list, which may be empty.
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Expand values into a new list
Use a starred iterable expression inside a list display when you want to place its elements into a newly constructed list:
left = [1, 2]
right = [3, 4]
combined = [*left, *right]
# combined == [1, 2, 3, 4]
This creates a new list display; it does not mutate either source list. Each expression prefixed with * must be iterable. Trying to expand a non-iterable value, such as an integer, raises an exception. See the Python expression reference for list displays.
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Unzip pairs into columns
For rows containing corresponding values, zip(*pairs) passes each row as an input to zip. The result separates the rows into columns:
pairs = [(1, "a"), (2, "b")]
numbers, letters = zip(*pairs)
# numbers == (1, 2)
# letters == ('a', 'b')
Here, the unpacking of pairs supplies two inputs to zip; zip groups their first items together, then their second items. The output columns are tuples. The built-in zip() reference documents this unzipping pattern.
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Fix unpacking errors and avoid silent truncation
“Not enough values to unpack” or “too many values to unpack”
Without a starred target, the number of items must exactly match the number of targets. If the shape is variable, inspect or validate the input, or use a starred target for the remainder. A star does not make all counts valid: there must still be one item for every non-starred target.
Expansion fails on a non-iterable
In a list display such as [*value], the expression must be iterable. Check that the value is a sequence or another iterable before expanding it.
zip truncates to the shortest input
Ordinary zip stops as soon as its shortest input is exhausted, so mismatched column lengths can discard trailing values. If equal lengths are required, use strict=True to raise ValueError when they differ:
numbers = [1, 2]
letters = ["a"]
list(zip(numbers, letters, strict=True)) # raises ValueError
If unequal lengths are expected and you want missing positions padded instead, use itertools.zip_longest(). The Python zip() documentation describes the default stopping behavior and strict mode.
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- Use
x, y = valueswhen you need individual names and know there are exactly two items. - Use
first, *rest = valueswhen the first item has a distinct role and the remaining count can vary. - Use
[*values]when you want to expand iterable elements into a new list. - Use
zip(*pairs)when you want to transpose rows into columns, and choose strict length checking or padding if inputs may differ.
The linked Python documentation pages carry different version labels: the assignment reference is labeled Python 3.16.0a0, the expression tutorial Python 3.15.0rc3, and the built-ins reference Python 3.14.7. These labels identify documentation versions; they do not imply that every reader runs those releases. Check the version used by your project when relying on version-specific behavior.
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