C# Academy · Lesson

Value Tuples Basics

Create lightweight tuples for grouped data.

Value Tuples Basics is a free C# Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C# Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

What Is a Tuple?

A tuple groups several values into one lightweight bundle without defining a class. C# value tuples use parentheses: (int, string).

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        (int, string) pair = (1, "one");
        Console.WriteLine(pair.Item1 + " = " + pair.Item2);
    }
}

Creating a Value Tuple

Write the values in parentheses. The compiler infers the tuple type from them.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var point = (3, 4);
        Console.WriteLine("x=" + point.Item1 + ", y=" + point.Item2);
    }
}

Accessing Elements: Item1, Item2

Unnamed tuple elements are reached through Item1, Item2, Item3, and so on, in order.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var rgb = (255, 128, 0);
        Console.WriteLine("R=" + rgb.Item1 + " G=" + rgb.Item2 + " B=" + rgb.Item3);
    }
}

Tuples Hold Mixed Types

Each element can be a different type. A tuple can mix numbers, strings, booleans, and more.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var user = ("Ada", 36, true);
        Console.WriteLine(user.Item1 + ", age " + user.Item2 + ", active=" + user.Item3);
    }
}

Tuples Are Mutable

Value tuple elements can be reassigned, since each ItemN is a writable field.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var score = (player: "A", points: 0);
        score.points = 10;
        score.points += 5;
        Console.WriteLine(score.player + ": " + score.points);
    }
}

Tuples as Local Bundles

Tuples are great for temporarily grouping values inside a method without creating a dedicated type.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var range = (min: 5, max: 50);
        int span = range.max - range.min;
        Console.WriteLine("Span: " + span);
    }
}

Comparing Tuples

Value tuples support equality: two tuples are equal if all corresponding elements are equal.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var a = (1, 2);
        var b = (1, 2);
        var c = (1, 3);
        Console.WriteLine(a == b);
        Console.WriteLine(a == c);
    }
}

Nesting Tuples

A tuple element can itself be a tuple, letting you build small structured groups.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var line = (start: (0, 0), end: (3, 4));
        Console.WriteLine("From " + line.start.Item1 + "," + line.start.Item2 +
            " to " + line.end.Item1 + "," + line.end.Item2);
    }
}

Tuples in Collections

You can store tuples in a list to keep paired data together without a class.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var scores = new List<(string, int)>
        {
            ("Ann", 90),
            ("Bob", 85)
        };
        foreach (var s in scores)
            Console.WriteLine(s.Item1 + ": " + s.Item2);
    }
}

Value Semantics

A value tuple is a struct, so assigning it copies the values. Changing the copy does not affect the original.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var original = (n: 1);
        var copy = original;
        copy.n = 99;
        Console.WriteLine("original=" + original.n + ", copy=" + copy.n);
    }
}

Putting It Together

Value tuples give you quick, typed groupings ideal for short-lived data inside a method or a simple list.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var result = (count: 3, total: 150);
        double average = (double)result.total / result.count;
        Console.WriteLine("Average: " + average.ToString("0.0"));
    }
}

Quick Check

Test your understanding of value tuples.

Recap

A value tuple bundles multiple values in parentheses like (int, string) without a class. Unnamed elements are accessed via Item1, Item2. Tuples are mutable structs with value semantics and support equality. They are ideal for quick, local groupings.

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var t = (1, "one", true);
        Console.WriteLine(t.Item1 + " " + t.Item2 + " " + t.Item3);
    }
}

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Value Tuples Basics” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Value Tuples Basics” is free to read here on the web, and the C# Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C# Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Value Tuples Basics”?

Create lightweight tuples for grouped data. You practise C# Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C# Academy?

No prior experience is required. C# Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Value Tuples Basics” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this C# Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C# Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

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