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2.0 Python: Access Dictionary Items

2.1 Accessing Items​

You can access the items of a dictionary by referring to its key name, inside square brackets:

2.1.1 Example​

Get the value of the "model" key:

thisdict = {
  "brand": "Ford",
  "model": "Mustang",
  "year": 1964
}

print(thisdict["model"])

There is also a method called get() that will give you the same result:

2.1.2 Example​

Get the value of the "model" key:

thisdict = {
  "brand": "Ford",
  "model": "Mustang",
  "year": 1964
}

print(thisdict.get("model"))

2.2 Get Keys​

The keys() method will return a list of all the keys in the dictionary.

2.2.1 Example​

Get a list of the keys:

thisdict = {
  "brand": "Ford",
  "model": "Mustang",
  "year": 1964
}

print(thisdict.keys())

The list of the keys is a view of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to the dictionary will be reflected in the keys list.

2.2.2 Example​

Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the keys list gets updated as well:

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

print(car.keys())

car["color"] = "white"

print(car.keys())

2.3 Get Values​

The values() method will return a list of all the values in the dictionary.

2.3.1 Example​

Get a list of the values:

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

car["color"] = "white"

print(car.values())

The list of the values is a view of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to the dictionary will be reflected in the values list.

2.3.2 Example​

Make a change in the original dictionary, and see that the values list gets updated as well:

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

print(car.values())

car["year"] = 2020

print(car.values())

2.3.3 Example​

Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the values list gets updated as well:

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

x = car.values()

print(car.values())

car["color"] = "red"

print(x)

2.4 Get Items​

The items() method will return each item in a dictionary, as tuples in a list.

2.4.1 Example​

Get a list of the key:value pairs

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

print(car.items())

The returned list is a view of the items of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to the dictionary will be reflected in the items list.

2.4.2 Example​

Make a change in the original dictionary, and see that the items list gets updated as well:

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

x = car.items()

print(x) #before the change

car["year"] = 2020

print(x) #after the change

2.4.3 Example​

Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the items list gets updated as well:

car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}

x = car.items()

print(x) #before the change

car["color"] = "red"

print(x) #after the change

2.5 Check if Keys Exists​

To determine if a specified key is present in a dictionary use the in keyword:

2.5.1 Example​

Check if "model" is present in the dictionary:

thisdict = {
  "brand": "Ford",
  "model": "Mustang",
  "year": 1964
}
if "model" in thisdict:
  print("Yes, 'model' is one of the keys in the thisdict dictionary")