How to get a list of all the keys from a Python dictionary?

In this article, we will show you how to get a list of all the keys from a Python dictionary. We can get the list of all the keys from a Python dictionary using the following methods -

• Using dict.keys() Method

• Using list() & dict.keys() Function

• Using List Comprehension

• Using the Unpacking Operator(*)

• Using append() Function & For Loop

Assume we have taken an example dictionary. We will return the list of all the keys from a Python dictionary using different methods as specified above.

Using dict.keys() method

In Python Dictionary, the dict.keys() method provides a view object that displays a list of all the keys in the dictionary in order of insertion.

Example

The following program returns the list of all the keys of a dictionary using the keys() function -

# input dictionary
demoDictionary = {10: 'TutorialsPoint', 12: 'Python', 14: 'Codes'}

# Printing the list of keys of a dictionary using keys() function
print(demoDictionary.keys())

When you run the program, it will show this output -

dict_keys([10, 12, 14])

Using list() & dict.keys() function

The list() method in Python accepts any iterable as an argument and returns a list. Iterable is an object in Python that can be iterated over. And the dict.keys() method is used to get the keys of a dictionary.

Example

The following program returns the list of all the keys of a dictionary using the list() and keys() functions -

# input dictionary
demoDictionary = {10: 'TutorialsPoint', 12: 'Python', 14: 'Codes'}

# Printing the list of keys of a dictionary using keys() function
# list() methods convert an iterable into a list
print(list(demoDictionary.keys()))

After running the program, you will get this result -

[10, 12, 14]

Using List comprehension

We can use list comprehension to get the list of all the keys of a dictionary. List comprehension is a concise way to create lists in Python.

Example

The following program returns the list of all the keys of a dictionary using a List comprehension -

# input dictionary
demoDictionary = {10: 'TutorialsPoint', 12: 'Python', 14: 'Codes'}

# getting all the keys from a dictionary
dictionaryKeys = demoDictionary.keys()

# Printing the list of keys of a dictionary by traversing through each key
# in the above keys list using the list comprehension
print([key for key in dictionaryKeys])

This output will be displayed when the program runs -

[10, 12, 14]

Using the Unpacking operator(*)

The unpacking operator "*" works with any iterable object, and because dictionaries give their keys when iterated, you can easily generate a list by using it within a list literal.

Example

The following program returns the list of all the keys of a dictionary using the unpacking operator(*) -

# input dictionary
demoDictionary = {10: 'TutorialsPoint', 12: 'Python', 14: 'Codes'}

# Printing the list of keys of a dictionary by using the unpacking operator(*)
print([*demoDictionary])

You will see this result after executing the program -

[10, 12, 14]

Using append() function & For loop

We can use the for loop to traverse through all the keys of the dictionary using the keys() function. to get the list of keys, we need to append each key of the dictionary to a list using the append() function and print the list at the end.

Example

The following program prints the list of all the keys of a dictionary using the append() function & for loop -

# input dictionary
demoDictionary = {10: 'TutorialsPoint', 12: 'Python', 14: 'Codes'}

# an empty list for storing dictionary keys
dictKeysList = []

# Traversing through all the keys of the dictionary
for dictKey in demoDictionary.keys():

   # appending each key to the list
   dictKeysList.append(dictKey)

# Printing the list of keys of a dictionary
print(dictKeysList)

Output

The program gives this output when it is run -

[10, 12, 14]