divmod()

divmod(a, b)

The divmod() function takes two numbers (not complex numbers) as arguments and returns a tuple containing the quotient and remainder from integer division. It is equivalent to (a // b, a % b) but computes both values in a single operation, which can be more efficient.

Syntax

divmod(a, b)

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
a	int | float	—	The dividend. Position-only.
b	int | float	—	The divisor. Position-only. Cannot be zero.

Returns: A tuple of two numbers (quotient, remainder).

Examples

Basic usage with integers

# divmod returns (quotient, remainder)
result = divmod(10, 3)
print(result)
# (3, 1)

# Equivalent to:
result = (10 // 3, 10 % 3)
print(result)
# (3, 1)

Working with floats

# Works with floats too
result = divmod(7.5, 2.5)
print(result)
# (3.0, 0.0)

# When divisor is float, result is float
result = divmod(10, 3.5)
print(result)
# (2.0, 3.0)

Negative numbers

# Negative dividend
result = divmod(-10, 3)
print(result)
# (-4, 2)

# Negative divisor
result = divmod(10, -3)
print(result)
# (-4, -2)

# Both negative
result = divmod(-10, -3)
print(result)
# (3, -1)

Common Patterns

Batch processing with remainders

def distribute_items(total, per_box):
    """Distribute items into boxes, return (full_boxes, remainingItems)."""
    return divmod(total, per_box)

full_boxes, leftover = distribute_items(100, 8)
print(f"Full boxes: {full_boxes}, Remaining: {leftover}")
# Full boxes: 12, Remaining: 4

Pagination calculation

def calculate_pages(total_items, items_per_page):
    """Calculate total pages and items on last page."""
    return divmod(total_items, items_per_page)

total_pages, last_page_items = calculate_pages(127, 10)
print(f"Total pages: {total_pages + (1 if last_page_items else 0)}")
print(f"Items on last page: {last_page_items or items_per_page}")
# Total pages: 13
# Items on last page: 7

Time conversion

def seconds_to_hours_minutes_seconds(seconds):
    """Convert seconds to hours, minutes, and remaining seconds."""
    hours, remainder = divmod(seconds, 3600)
    minutes, secs = divmod(remainder, 60)
    return hours, minutes, secs

h, m, s = seconds_to_hours_minutes_seconds(3665)
print(f"{h}h {m}m {s}s")
# 1h 1m 5s

Errors

ZeroDivisionError

# Division by zero raises ZeroDivisionError
divmod(10, 0)
# ZeroDivisionError: integer division or modulo by zero

TypeError with complex numbers

# Complex numbers are not supported
divmod(5, 2+1j)
# TypeError: can't take divmod of complex numbers

See Also

• built-in::pow — Power function
• built-in::round — Round numbers