Python: one variable but different values? [duplicate]

Question

I have a line of code from Python forbidden fruit module:

__all__ = 'curse', 'curses', 'reverse'

I know what strings are and I know what arrays and tuples are. What kind of variable is this? How can we use this and for what?

It's a tuple. Tuples are defined by commas, not parentheses. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Jan 11, 2018 at 18:16
@IMCoins: No, that's about the special variable __all__, and says nothing about the syntax used here. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Jan 11, 2018 at 18:17
Terminology nitpick: while Python does have arrays, they are rarely used compared to the far more common built-in data type, list. If you're reading a tutorial that calls [1,2,3] an array, find a new tutorial. — Kevin
– Kevin, Commented Jan 11, 2018 at 18:17
@MartijnPieters I understand, but he could have selected ANY variable, and he chose this specific one. That sounds more than a coincidence to me. Like : He wanted to know what __all__ was, since he already said "I know what a tuple is". :) his question might be poorly formulated, but I believe I got it right -- EDIT : Correct me if I'm wrong though. — IMCoins
– IMCoins, Commented Jan 11, 2018 at 18:19

Finlay McWalter · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-11 18:16:35Z

3

It's a tuple. If you want to find out the type of something, use the type function - e.g.

type(__all__)

answered Jan 11, 2018 at 18:16

Finlay McWalter

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