Basics

Python Dictionaries

Python Dictionaries

Python dictionaries store key-value pairs, with get() for safe access.

What is a Python Dictionary?

A Python dictionary is an unordered collection that stores data in key-value pairs. Each key is unique and acts as an identifier for its associated value. This data structure is highly versatile, allowing for efficient data retrieval and manipulation.

Creating a Dictionary

Creating a dictionary in Python is straightforward. You can initialize a dictionary using curly braces {} or the dict() constructor.

Accessing Dictionary Values

To access a value in a dictionary, you use the key associated with it. Be cautious, accessing a key that does not exist will raise a KeyError.

Safe Access with get() Method

The get() method provides a safe way to access values in a dictionary. It returns None or a specified default value if the key is not found.

Adding and Updating Entries

To add or update key-value pairs in a dictionary, simply assign a value to a key. If the key exists, its value will be updated; if not, a new key-value pair will be added.

Removing Entries from a Dictionary

Keys and their associated values can be removed using the del statement or the pop() method, which also returns the removed value.

Iterating Over a Dictionary

You can iterate over dictionaries to access keys, values, or both. Using the items() method allows you to loop through key-value pairs directly.

Previous
Tuples
Next
Sets