[Timon3]

> That's a type that matches tuples of any length, not a variable-length tuple.

A tuple with a type that matches variable lengths of tuples is a variable-length tuple for that piece of code. You're free to show me some official definitions that proves this wording false, but until then it's useless nitpicking. Though you should probably take that up with Guido, who also calls them variable-length tuples: https://github.com/python/typing/issues/30

> This whole statement doesn't make sense. I'm assuming you're still talking about type definitions and not actually tuples.

The statement makes perfect sense, thank you. If you have trouble understanding my messages without me repeating the whole definition every time, maybe just skip them.

[OrderlyTiamat]

I think they've interpreted "variable length tuple" as "a tuple whose length can change", not "a tuple whose length could be one of multiple options".

The former is of course not possible with tuples being immutable, which is why they're talking about lists.

[Timon3]

Yeah, that seems likely. I'm not sure how to express the concept aside from the name I've seen used in the community (and my many subsequent explanations), considering I was explicitly talking about typing.

[OrderlyTiamat]

I don't know either. Since the alternative interpretation is a contradiction in terms, you'd think this name would cover the intended meaning.

Maybe something like "unknown length tuple"? chatgpt suggested "arbitrary-length" or "undetermined-length" as synonyms, that could be a more easily understood expression perhaps.

[Timon3]

Those are good suggestions, thanks!