Can a Python function return only the second of two values?

Question

I have a Python function that returns multiple values. As an example for this question, consider the function below, which returns two values.

def function():
    ...
    return x, y

I know this function can return both values x, y = function(). But is it possible for this function to only return the second value?

In MATLAB, for example, it would be possible to do something like this: ~, y = function(). I have not found an equivalent approach in Python.

`x = function()` also gets both values. If you try that, you'll see that x will be a tuple. — matiasg, Apr 24 '15 at 14:48
Does this answer your question? [Ignore python multiple return value](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/431866/ignore-python-multiple-return-value) — Josh Correia, Feb 03 '21 at 19:43

score 28 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 24 '15 at 14:48

28

The pythonic idiom is just to ignore the first return value by assigning it to _:

_, y = function()

answered Apr 24 '15 at 14:48

Mureinik

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 24 '15 at 14:46

10

The closest syntax you are looking is:

function()[1]

which will return the second element, since function's result can be considered a tuple of size 2.

answered Apr 24 '15 at 14:46

JuniorCompressor

2 Answers2