Tuples in Python are a built-in data structure that allows you to store multiple items in a single, ordered, and immutable collection. Unlike lists, which are mutable and can be changed after creation, tuples cannot be altered once they are defined. This immutability makes tuples a reliable choice for storing data that should remain constant. Tuples are defined using parentheses and can contain elements of different data types, including integers, strings, and even other tuples. They support indexing and slicing, making it easy to access individual elements or subsets of the data.