Beginner LevelPython
How does extended iterable unpacking (first, *middle, last = items) work in assignment statements?
❓ Interview Prompt: Explain extended iterable unpacking (`*` operator in assignments), capturing remaining items into lists, and dictionary merging (`**`).
Python supports Extended Iterable Unpacking using the asterisk ('*') operator:
Assignment Unpacking:
Allows capturing multiple unpacked elements into a list during tuple/list destructuring:
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'first, *middle, last = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]' $\rightarrow$ 'first=10', 'middle=[20, 30, 40]', 'last=50'.
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Dictionary Merging (''): '{dict1, **dict2}' merges key-value pairs into a new dictionary.
Code Implementation Example
python
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
first, *middle, last = numbers
print('First:', first) # 1
print('Middle:', middle) # [2, 3, 4]
print('Last:', last) # 5
# Merge dictionaries using ** unpacking
d1 = {'a': 1}
d2 = {'b': 2}
merged = {**d1, **d2} # {'a': 1, 'b': 2}💡Unpacking iterables into variables and merging dictionaries.
🎯 Interview Key Takeaway
Use * in assignment statements to capture variable elements into lists cleanly.
#Unpacking#Asterisk#Destructuring#Beginner
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