Python Dictionaries
Uploaded by
Farhan BajwaPython Dictionaries
Uploaded by
Farhan BajwaExploring Python
Dictionaries
An interactive journey for young coders
Age 12+ Coding Workshop
10 August 2025
What is a Dictionary?
A dictionary stores information using key–value pairs.
Keys must be unique and hashable (like strings, numbers, tuples).
Values can be any data type.
Order: since Python 3.7, items remain in the order they were added.
Dictionaries are mutable and efficient hash tables that can grow and shrink
on demand.
[1][2]
Real-Life Analogies
Real dictionary → word & definition
name: Alex
Lockers → locker number & contents
age: 12
Contact list → name & phone
city: Bangkok
[7]
Creating Dictionaries
student = {
"name": "Alex",
"age": 12,
Use curly braces {} with colon-separated key–value pairs "favorite_sport": "soccer"
Keys can be strings, numbers or tuples; values can be any type }
You can create an empty dictionary with {} or dict() print(student)
Use dict() to build from a list of pairs or keyword arguments
Tip: Use dict() when you want to build a dictionary
dynamically.
[3]
Accessing & Modifying Values
student = {"name": "Alex", "age": 12, "favorite_sport":
"soccer"}
Access a value using student[key] or [Link](key) print(student["name"]) # access
Add or update items by assignment: student["city"] = "Bangkok" student
Remove items: del student[key], [Link](key), [Link](), ["age"] = 13 # update
[Link]() student
["city"] = "Bangkok" # add
del student["favorite_sport"] # remove
print(student)
Add/
Access Remove
Update
del student[key] – removes item by key
[Link](key) – removes item and returns value
[Link]() – removes last inserted pair
[Link]() – empties dictionary
[4][5]
Characteristics & Restrictions
Lists Dictionaries
Access By position By key
(index)
Mutable: values can be changed in place
Dynamic: can grow or shrink as needed
Efficient hashing provides quick lookups Order Position Insertion order
matters (3.7+)
Ordered: maintains insertion order (Python 3.7+)
Keys must be hashable & unique
Values can be any type (including another dictionary) Duplicate keys? Allows Not allowed
duplicates
Key type Not applicable Must be
hashable
[2][4]
Looping Through Dictionaries
student = {"name": "Alex", "age": 12, "city": "Bangkok"}
for key in [Link]():
print(key) Use keys() to iterate over keys
Use values() to iterate over values
for value in [Link](): Use items() to iterate over key–value pairs
Dictionary comprehensions build dictionaries in one line
print(value)
for key, value in [Link]():
print(f"{key}: {value}")
Iterate easily!
[6]
Hands-on Activity 1: Contact Book
contacts = {
"Alice": "0812345678",
Work in pairs to create a contact book. "Bob": "0898765432",
1. Start with the dictionary below
2. Print the contacts "Cara": "0852468013"
3. Add a new friend }
4. Update one phone number
5. Remove a contact
6. Print the updated book and share your results!
Team up and have fun!
[4][5]
Hands-on Activity 2: Shopping Cart
cart = {"Pencils": 15, "Notebooks": 40, "Backpack": 350}
total
Create a shopping cart dictionary and calculate the total. =0
1. Use the template on the right to create your cart for item, price in [Link]():
2. Loop through items and prices
3. Sum the prices to get the total print(item, price)
4. Print each item with its price and the total cost total
5. Experiment: add more items or calculate the average price! += price
print("Total:", total)
Calculate & compare!
[6]
Mini Project & Group Discussion
Mini Project: Build a Student Gradebook Group Discussion
• Create a dictionary where each key is a student's name and the • Where might you use dictionaries in real life? (e.g.,
value is another dictionary of subjects and grades. translation, contact lists, inventories)
• Write code to calculate each student's average grade. • How do dictionaries differ from lists and why is that
• Allow adding new subjects or students. useful?
• Print the gradebook neatly. • Share your mini project ideas with the group!
Create something amazing! Share & reflect together!
[2]
