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Python zip() Function

The zip() function combines items from each of the specified iterables in a tuple, and returns it.

Syntax​

zip(*iterables)

zip() Parameters​

Python zip() function parameters:

ParameterConditionDescription
*iterablesOptionalOne or more iterables (list, tuple, dictionary etc.) to be joined together

zip() Return Value​

Python zip() function returns an iterator of tuples:

  • If we do not pass any parameter, zip() function returns an empty iterator
  • If a single iterable is passed, zip() function returns an iterator of tuples with each tuple having only one element.
  • If multiple iterables are passed, zip() function returns an iterator of tuples with each tuple having elements from all the iterables.
note

Suppose, two iterables are passed to zip(): one iterable containing three and other containing five elements. Then, the returned iterator will contain three tuples, because the iterator stops when the shortest iterable is exhausted.

Examples​

Example : Using zip() with no Iterable​

If no iterable is passed to the zip() function, it returns an empty tuple.

result = zip()

result_list = list(result) # converting iterator result to list
print(result_list) # Output: []

output

[]
note

Note that you can use the iterator obtained from zip() function as argument of other functions that consumes an iterator (like list(), set(), tuple(), etc,)

Example : Using zip() with a Single Iterable​

If a single iterable is passed, zip() function returns an iterator of tuples with each tuple having only one element.

single_list = [1,  2,  3]
zipped = zip(single_list)
print(list(zipped))  # Output: [(1,), (2,), (3,)]

output

[(1,), (2,), (3,)]

Example : Using zip() with Two Lists​

For example, let's combine two lists together:

x = [1, 2, 3]
y = ['one', 'two', 'three']
result = zip(x, y)
print(list(result)) # Output: [(1, 'one'), (2, 'two'), (3, 'three')]

output

[(1, 'one'), (2, 'two'), (3, 'three')]

Example : Using zip() with More Than Two Iterables​

You can pass as many iterables you want to the zip() function.

integers = [1,  2,  3]
letters = ['a', 'b', 'c']
floats = [4.0,  5.0,  6.0]
zipped = zip(integers, letters, floats)
print(list(zipped))  # Output: [(1, 'a', 4.0), (2, 'b', 5.0), (3, 'c', 6.0)]

output

[(1, 'a', 4.0), (2, 'b', 5.0), (3, 'c', 6.0)]

Example : Handling Iterables of Unequal Length (different lengths)​

If you pass iterables having different length, the iterable with least items decides the length of the resulting iterable.

numbers = [1,  2,  3]
letters = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd']
zipped = zip(numbers, letters)
print(list(zipped))  # Output: [(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'c')]

output

[(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'c')]

Example : Unzip/Unpack Zipped Items​

The zip() function, together with the * operator, can be used to unzip a list:

# zip
x = [1, 2, 3]
y = ['one', 'two', 'three']
result = zip(x, y)

# and then unzip
a, b = zip(*result)
print(a) # Output: (1, 2, 3)
print(b) # Output: ('one', 'two', 'three')

output

(1, 2, 3)
('one', 'two', 'three')

Example : Common use of zip() function​

You can create a dictionary with list of zipped keys and values.

keys = ['name', 'age']
values = ['Tom', 25]
result_dict = dict(zip(keys, values))
print(result_dict) # Output: {'name': 'Tom', 'age': 25}

output

{'name': 'Tom', 'age': 25}

Using zip() function you can loop through multiple lists at once.

name = ['Tom', 'David', 'Anna']
age = [35, 25, 23]
for x, y in zip(name, age):
    print(x, y)

output

Tom 35
David 25
Anna 23

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