Multiple return values in Python

Introduction

Sometimes a function needs to give back more than one piece of information. Multiple return values let a function send back several results at once.

When you want a function to give back both a result and some extra details, like a calculation and its steps.

When you need to return different types of data together, like a number and a message.

When you want to split a task into parts and return all parts at once.

When you want to return coordinates like x and y from a function.

When you want to return both success status and data from a function.

Syntax

Python

def function_name():
    # do something
    return value1, value2, value3

You separate the values you want to return with commas.

Python automatically packs these values into a tuple.

Examples

This function returns two values: a name and an age.

Python

def get_name_and_age():
    return "Alice", 30

Returns both the sum and product of two numbers.

Python

def calculate():
    sum = 5 + 3
    product = 5 * 3
    return sum, product

This function returns nothing explicitly, so it returns None.

Python

def no_return():
    print("Hello")

Sample Program

This program defines a function that returns two values: the quotient and remainder of dividing two numbers. Then it prints both values.

Python

def divide_and_remainder(a, b):
    quotient = a // b
    remainder = a % b
    return quotient, remainder

q, r = divide_and_remainder(17, 5)
print(f"Quotient: {q}")
print(f"Remainder: {r}")

Important Notes

You can assign the returned values to separate variables like in the example.

If you only want some of the returned values, you can use an underscore (_) to ignore others.

Multiple return values are actually returned as a tuple behind the scenes.

Summary

Functions can return many values separated by commas.

Returned values are grouped as a tuple automatically.

You can easily capture these values into separate variables.