Question

Give two reasons why tuples exist.

Short answer

Answer: Two reasons for the existence of tuples are: 1) Tuples serve as an immutable data structure, ensuring data remains constant and safe from accidental alterations, and 2) Tuples can efficiently represent records in a database, as their immutability is suitable for fixed data structures.

Step-by-step solution

Reason 1: Immutable Data Structure

Tuples are an immutable data structure, which means that their elements cannot be modified after creation. This is a valuable feature in situations where the data should not be changed, ensuring that it remains constant and safe from accidental alterations. Immutable objects are also faster and require less memory, making them efficient for certain tasks.

Reason 2: Tuples as Database Records

Tuples can efficiently represent records or rows in a database. Since database records are generally fixed and not meant to be modified frequently, the immutability of tuples makes them a suitable candidate for this purpose. This also allows for simpler and more efficient querying, as the indexing and ordering of records can be easily handled using tuples.