Can Python function return multiple data?

[sohcahtoa82 at gmail.com]

On Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at 2:27:37 PM UTC-7, fl wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I just see the tutorial says Python can return value in function, it does 
> not say multiple data results return situation. In C, it is possible.
> How about Python on a multiple data return requirement?
> 
> 
> Thanks,

You return a tuple, set, or other iterable.  For example:

def return_two_values():
    return 1, 2

a, b = return_two_values()
print a
print b

This would print:
1
2

Note though that when doing something like this, you have to be really careful that if you have multiple calls to `return` in your function, that they will ALL return the same number of values.  Otherwise, when the tuple/list/etc. is unpacked, you'll get an error.

def return_two_values():
    # ... do some stuff
    if someCondition:
        print "someCondition was true!"
        return 0
    return 1, 2

a, b = return_two_values()

Here, if someCondition ended up being False, then an exception would be thrown.

Keep in mind that the unpacking of the returned value into the variables `a` and `b` works with *ANY* iterable.  So if you returned 'abc' and unpacked it into three variables, then the first would contain 'a', the second 'b', and the third 'c'.

You can also just return a dictionary if you want to return multiple values.