Рассмотрим эти выражения... Пожалуйста, будьте терпеливы... это длинный список...
(Примечание: некоторые выражения повторяются - это просто для представления "контекста" )
a, b = 1, 2 # simple sequence assignment
a, b = ['green', 'blue'] # list asqignment
a, b = 'XY' # string assignment
a, b = range(1,5,2) # any iterable will do
# nested sequence assignment
(a,b), c = "XY", "Z" # a = 'X', b = 'Y', c = 'Z'
(a,b), c = "XYZ" # ERROR -- too many values to unpack
(a,b), c = "XY" # ERROR -- need more than 1 value to unpack
(a,b), c, = [1,2],'this' # a = '1', b = '2', c = 'this'
(a,b), (c,) = [1,2],'this' # ERROR -- too many values to unpack
# extended sequence unpacking
a, *b = 1,2,3,4,5 # a = 1, b = [2,3,4,5]
*a, b = 1,2,3,4,5 # a = [1,2,3,4], b = 5
a, *b, c = 1,2,3,4,5 # a = 1, b = [2,3,4], c = 5
a, *b = 'X' # a = 'X', b = []
*a, b = 'X' # a = [], b = 'X'
a, *b, c = "XY" # a = 'X', b = [], c = 'Y'
a, *b, c = "X...Y" # a = 'X', b = ['.','.','.'], c = 'Y'
a, b, *c = 1,2,3 # a = 1, b = 2, c = [3]
a, b, c, *d = 1,2,3 # a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, d = []
a, *b, c, *d = 1,2,3,4,5 # ERROR -- two starred expressions in assignment
(a,b), c = [1,2],'this' # a = '1', b = '2', c = 'this'
(a,b), *c = [1,2],'this' # a = '1', b = '2', c = ['this']
(a,b), c, *d = [1,2],'this' # a = '1', b = '2', c = 'this', d = []
(a,b), *c, d = [1,2],'this' # a = '1', b = '2', c = [], d = 'this'
(a,b), (c, *d) = [1,2],'this' # a = '1', b = '2', c = 't', d = ['h', 'i', 's']
*a = 1 # ERROR -- target must be in a list or tuple
*a = (1,2) # ERROR -- target must be in a list or tuple
*a, = (1,2) # a = [1,2]
*a, = 1 # ERROR -- 'int' object is not iterable
*a, = [1] # a = [1]
*a = [1] # ERROR -- target must be in a list or tuple
*a, = (1,) # a = [1]
*a, = (1) # ERROR -- 'int' object is not iterable
*a, b = [1] # a = [], b = 1
*a, b = (1,) # a = [], b = 1
(a,b),c = 1,2,3 # ERROR -- too many values to unpack
(a,b), *c = 1,2,3 # ERROR - 'int' object is not iterable
(a,b), *c = 'XY', 2, 3 # a = 'X', b = 'Y', c = [2,3]
# extended sequence unpacking -- NESTED
(a,b),c = 1,2,3 # ERROR -- too many values to unpack
*(a,b), c = 1,2,3 # a = 1, b = 2, c = 3
*(a,b) = 1,2 # ERROR -- target must be in a list or tuple
*(a,b), = 1,2 # a = 1, b = 2
*(a,b) = 'XY' # ERROR -- target must be in a list or tuple
*(a,b), = 'XY' # a = 'X', b = 'Y'
*(a, b) = 'this' # ERROR -- target must be in a list or tuple
*(a, b), = 'this' # ERROR -- too many values to unpack
*(a, *b), = 'this' # a = 't', b = ['h', 'i', 's']
*(a, *b), c = 'this' # a = 't', b = ['h', 'i'], c = 's'
*(a,*b), = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # a = 1, b = [2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
*(a,*b), *c = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # ERROR -- two starred expressions in assignment
*(a,*b), (*c,) = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # ERROR -- 'int' object is not iterable
*(a,*b), c = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # a = 1, b = [2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6], c = 7
*(a,*b), (*c,) = 1,2,3,4,5,'XY' # a = 1, b = [2, 3, 4, 5], c = ['X', 'Y']
*(a,*b), c, d = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # a = 1, b = [2, 3, 3, 4, 5], c = 6, d = 7
*(a,*b), (c, d) = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # ERROR -- 'int' object is not iterable
*(a,*b), (*c, d) = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # ERROR -- 'int' object is not iterable
*(a,*b), *(c, d) = 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7 # ERROR -- two starred expressions in assignment
*(a,b), c = 'XY', 3 # ERROR -- need more than 1 value to unpack
*(*a,b), c = 'XY', 3 # a = [], b = 'XY', c = 3
(a,b), c = 'XY', 3 # a = 'X', b = 'Y', c = 3
*(a,b), c = 'XY', 3, 4 # a = 'XY', b = 3, c = 4
*(*a,b), c = 'XY', 3, 4 # a = ['XY'], b = 3, c = 4
(a,b), c = 'XY', 3, 4 # ERROR -- too many values to unpack
Как вы понимаете такую сложность и путаницу. Как всегда можно ПРАВИЛЬНО при расчете результатов таких выражений вручную. Или, читая какой-то другой код, я должен просто игнорировать их и никогда не пытаться понять, что на самом деле делает выражение?