Python Dictionaries

Complete guide to Python dictionaries covering creation, access, modification, looping, and nesting.

Defining Dictionaries

# Making a dictionary
alien = {'color': 'green', 'points': 5}

Accessing Values

alien = {'color': 'green', 'points': 5}

# Get value with key
print(alien['color'])  # green
print(alien['points'])  # 5

# Using get() method (safe)
alien_points = alien.get('points', 0)  # returns 0 if key not found

Adding Key-Value Pairs

alien = {'color': 'green', 'points': 5}

# Add new pairs
alien['x'] = 0
alien['y'] = 25
alien['speed'] = 1.5

Modifying Values

alien = {'color': 'green', 'points': 5}
print(alien)

# Change values
alien['color'] = 'yellow'
alien['points'] = 10
print(alien)

Looping Through

fav_langs = {
    'jen': 'python',
    'sarah': 'c',
    'edward': 'ruby'
}

# Loop through all key-value pairs
for name, language in fav_langs.items():
    print(f"{name}: {language}")

# Loop through all keys
for name in fav_langs.keys():
    print(name)

# Loop through all values
for language in fav_langs.values():
    print(language)