I propose to add a new PyTuple_GetItemRef() function, similar to PyTuple_GetItem() but return a strong reference instead of a borrowed reference.

Other functions were added recently to return a strong reference:

• PyDict_GetItemRef(), PyDict_GetItemStringRef() -- issue C API: Add PyDict_GetItemRef() function #106004
• PyList_GetItemRef() -- issue Add PyList_GetItemRef, a variant of PyList_GetItem that returns a strong reference #114329
• PyWeakref_GetRef() -- issue C API: Add PyWeakref_GetRef() function #105927
• PyImport_AddModuleRef() -- issue C API: Add PyImport_AddModuleRef() function #105922

I already proposed adding PyTuple_GetItemRef() in 2020, but the idea was rejected: issue gh-86460. Since 2020, Free Threading (PEP 703) was added to Python and borrowed references don't play well with Free Threading.

Linked PRs

• gh-117518: Add PyTuple_GetItemRef() function #117519
• gh-117518: Clarify PyTuple_GetItem() borrowed reference in the doc #117920
• [3.12] gh-117518: Clarify PyTuple_GetItem() borrowed reference in the doc (GH-117920) #118087