Python Dictionary

Introduction.
Here, we will learn about dictionaries, the operators, and methods used on dictionaries. It is nearly
inconceivable to work with python program or scripts, without lists and dictionaries. Python
dictionaries can be changed easily at runtime.
Dictionary is like a list but in a general form. It can think like this; a dictionary is a mapping
between a set of indexes or keys with a set of values, where each key maps to a value. A
combination of a key and its value is called a key-value pair or item.
Suppose we take an example and build a dictionary that maps words from English to French. So
the keys and their values will be all strings.
In the Python dictionary, each key is separated by a colon (:) from its values. Commas separate all
the items, and the whole dictionary is enclosed within '{' and '}'. In the dictionary, all the keys
should have to be unique with data type as strings, tuples, or numbers, and the values can be of
any of these three types.

Objectives
Objectives by the end of this topic you should be able to:

• Define a Dictionary In Python

• Accessing Dictionary Values
• Creating a New Dictionary in Python
• Dictionary as Set of Counter
• Updating Dictionary in Python
• Deleting Elements From Dictionary

Learning activities

Learning Activity 9.1: Reading

Read further on dictionaries built-in methods.
Learning Activity 9.2: Journal
Write a Python script to merge two Python dictionaries.
Learning Activity 9.3: Discussion
Write a Python script to print a dictionary where the keys are numbers between 1 and 15 (both
included) and the values are square of keys
Assessment

Topic resources
1. The Python Tutorial¶. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html
2. Mueller, J. P. (n.d.). Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies. S.l.: For
Dummies.
 3. (n.d.). Python 3.7.4 documentation. Retrieved from https://docs.python.org/3
4. (n.d.). Git Handbook. Retrieved from https://guides.github.com/introduction/git-
handbook/
5. Shaw, Z. (2017). Learn Python 3 the hard way: a very simple introduction to the
terrifyingly beautiful world of computers and code. Boston: Addison-Wesley.
6. Bader, D. (2018). Python tricks: the book. Vancouver, BC: Dan Bader.
7. Downey, A. B. (2015). Think Python. Sebastopol: OReilly.
8. Ramalho, L. (2016). Fluent Python:Beijing: OReilly.

URL Links
https://thomas-cokelaer.info/tutorials/python/dicts.html
https://data-flair.training/blogs/python-dictionary/
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_dictionary.htm
https://www.w3schools.in/python-tutorial/dictionaries/

Python Dictionary - NOTES

Dictionary in Python is an unordered collection of data values, used to store data values like a
map, which unlike other Data Types that hold only single value as an element, Dictionary
holds key:value pair. Key value is provided in the dictionary to make it more optimized.
Note – Keys in a dictionary doesn’t allows Polymorphism.

Creating a Dictionary
In Python, a Dictionary can be created by placing sequence of elements within curly {} braces,
separated by ‘comma’. Dictionary holds a pair of values, one being the Key and the other
corresponding pair element being its Key:value. Values in a dictionary can be of any datatype and
can be duplicated, whereas keys can’t be repeated and must be immutable.

Note – Dictionary keys are case sensitive, same name but different cases of Key will be treated
distinctly.
Output:
Dictionary with the use of Integer Keys:
{1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 'Geeks'}

Dictionary with the use of Mixed Keys:

{1: [1, 2, 3, 4], 'Name': 'Geeks'}

Dictionary can also be created by the built-in function dict(). An empty dictionary can be created
by just placing to curly braces{}.

Output:
Empty Dictionary:
{}
Dictionary with the use of dict():
{1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 'Geeks'}

Dictionary with each item as a pair:

{1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For'}

Nested Dictionary:

Output:
{1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: {'A': 'Welcome', 'B': 'To', 'C': 'Geeks'}}

Adding elements to a Dictionary

In Python Dictionary, Addition of elements can be done in multiple ways. One value at a time
can be added to a Dictionary by defining value along with the key e.g. Dict[Key] = ‘Value’.
Updating an existing value in a Dictionary can be done by using the built-in update() method.
Nested key values can also be added to an existing Dictionary.
Note- While adding a value, if the key value already exists, the value gets updated otherwise a
new Key with the value is added to the Dictionary.

Output:
Empty Dictionary:
{}

Dictionary after adding 3 elements:

{0: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 1}

Dictionary after adding 3 elements:

{0: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 1, 'Value_set': (2, 3, 4)}
Updated key value:
{0: 'Geeks', 2: 'Welcome', 3: 1, 'Value_set': (2, 3, 4)}

Adding a Nested Key:

{0: 'Geeks', 2: 'Welcome', 3: 1, 5: {'Nested': {'1': 'Life', '2': 'Geeks'}}, 'Value_set': (2, 3, 4)}

Accessing elements from a Dictionary

In order to access the items of a dictionary refer to its key name.Key can be used inside square
brackets.

Output:
Accessing a element using key:
For

Accessing a element using key:

Geeks
There is also a method called get() that will also help in acessing the element from a dictionary.
Output:

Accessing a element using get:

Geeks

Accessing element of a nested dictionary

In order to access the value of any key in nested dictionary, use indexing [] syntax.

Output:
{1: 'Geeks'}
Geeks
For
Removing Elements from Dictionary
Using del keyword
In Python Dictionary, deletion of keys can be done by using the del keyword. Using del keyword,
specific values from a dictionary as well as whole dictionary can be deleted. Items in a Nested
dictionary can also be deleted by using del keyword and providing specific nested key and
particular key to be deleted from that nested Dictionary.
Note- del Dict will delete the entire dictionary and hence printing it after deletion will raise an
Error.
Output:
Initial Dictionary:
{'A': {1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 'Geeks'}, 'B': {1: 'Geeks', 2: 'Life'}, 5: 'Welcome', 6: 'To', 7: 'Geeks'}

Deleting a specific key:

{'A': {1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 'Geeks'}, 'B': {1: 'Geeks', 2: 'Life'}, 5: 'Welcome', 7: 'Geeks'}
Deleting a key from Nested Dictionary:
{'A': {1: 'Geeks', 3: 'Geeks'}, 'B': {1: 'Geeks', 2: 'Life'}, 5: 'Welcome', 7: 'Geeks'}
Using pop() method
Pop() method is used to return and delete the value of the key specified.

Output:
Dictionary after deletion: {3: 'Geeks', 'name': 'For'}
Value associated to poped key is: Geeks
Using popitem() method
The popitem() returns and removes an arbitrary element (key, value) pair from the dictionary.

Output:

Dictionary after deletion: {3: 'Geeks', 'name': 'For'}

The arbitrary pair returned is: (1, 'Geeks')

Using clear() method

All the items from a dictionary can be deleted at once by using clear() method.

Output:
Deleting Entire Dictionary:
{}

Dictionary Methods
Revision questions
1. Write a Python script to sort (ascending and descending) a dictionary by value. Go to the
editor. Click me to see the sample solution

2. Write a Python script to add a key to a dictionary. Go to the editor

Sample Dictionary : {0: 10, 1: 20}

Expected Result : {0: 10, 1: 20, 2: 30} Click me to see the sample solution

3. Write a Python script to concatenate following dictionaries to create a new one. Go to the
editor

Sample Dictionary :
dic1={1:10, 2:20}
dic2={3:30, 4:40}
dic3={5:50,6:60}
Expected Result : {1: 10, 2: 20, 3: 30, 4: 40, 5: 50, 6: 60}

Click me to see the sample solution

4. Write a Python script to check whether a given key already exists in a dictionary. Go to the
editor. Click me to see the sample solution

5. Write a Python program to iterate over dictionaries using for loops. Go to the editor. Click me
to see the sample solution