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Python Dictionary

A Python dictionary is a mutable, unordered collection that stores unique key-value pairs, where keys must be immutable. It allows for fast lookups and modifications, and can be created using curly braces or the dict() constructor. Applications include storing user data, counting occurrences, and representing structured information.

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4 views4 pages

Python Dictionary

A Python dictionary is a mutable, unordered collection that stores unique key-value pairs, where keys must be immutable. It allows for fast lookups and modifications, and can be created using curly braces or the dict() constructor. Applications include storing user data, counting occurrences, and representing structured information.

Uploaded by

Lavanya
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Python Dictionary - Detailed Explanation

A dictionary in Python is a built-in data structure used to store


key-value pairs. It is mutable, meaning it can be changed after
creation.
Dictionaries are useful for fast lookups, organizing data, and
representing structured information.

Definition of Dictionary:
A dictionary is an unordered, mutable collection of elements where
each element is stored as a key-value pair. Keys must be unique and
immutable
(e.g., strings, numbers, tuples), while values can be of any data type.

Example of a Dictionary:
student = {
"name": "John",
"age": 20,
"course": "Computer Science"
}
print(student["name"]) # Output: John

Characteristics of Dictionary:
1. Unordered - Items are not stored in a specific sequence.
2. Mutable - You can modify values, add, or remove key-value pairs.
3. Keys are unique - No duplicate keys are allowed.
4. Keys must be immutable - Strings, numbers, and tuples can be
used as keys.
5. Fast Lookups - Dictionary lookup time is O(1) on average due to
hash tables.

Creating a Dictionary:
1. Using Curly Braces {}
person = {"name": "Alice", "age": 25, "city": "New York"}

2. Using the dict() Constructor


person = dict(name="Alice", age=25, city="New York")

3. Creating an Empty Dictionary


empty_dict = {}

Accessing Dictionary Elements:


1. Using Square Brackets []
print(person["name"]) # Output: Alice

2. Using the get() Method


print(person.get("age")) # Output: 25
print(person.get("gender", "Not specified")) # Output: Not specified

Modifying a Dictionary:
1. Updating a Value
person["age"] = 30

2. Adding a New Key-Value Pair


person["gender"] = "Female"

Removing Elements from a Dictionary:


1. Using del
del person["city"]

2. Using pop()
age = person.pop("age")

3. Using popitem()
pair = person.popitem()
4. Using clear()
person.clear()

Dictionary Methods:
keys(), values(), items(), update(), copy()

Looping Through a Dictionary:


for key, value in person.items():
print(f"{key}: {value}")

Nested Dictionaries:
students = {
"student1": {"name": "Alice", "age": 20},
"student2": {"name": "Bob", "age": 22}
}

Applications of Dictionary:
1. Storing user data (e.g., name, age, email)
2. Counting occurrences of elements
3. Creating lookup tables
4. Storing JSON data
5. Representing graphs

Example: Counting Word Frequency:


text = "apple banana apple orange banana apple"
words = text.split()
word_count = {}
for word in words:
word_count[word] = word_count.get(word, 0) + 1
print(word_count) # Output: {'apple': 3, 'banana': 2, 'orange': 1}

Summary of Dictionary Features:


1. Stores Key-Value Pairs
2. Unordered
3. Mutable
4. Keys must be unique
5. Keys must be immutable
6. Fast Lookups
7. Built-in Methods

Final Definition:
"A dictionary in Python is an unordered, mutable data structure that
stores key-value pairs, allowing fast lookups, modifications,
and structured data representation."

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