Python Dictionary - easily explained!

The Python Dictionary is used to store key-value pairs in a variable. It is one of a total of four data structures that are pre-installed in Python. In addition to the dictionary, these also include the tuple, the set, and the list.

We define a Python dictionary by writing the key-value pair in curly braces and separated by a colon. We can store elements with different data types in a dictionary.

We can query the elements of the dictionary by specifying the key in square brackets. Then we get the corresponding value stored for this key.

What are the basic features of a Python dictionary?

Since Python version 3.7 the dictionary is ordered. This means that the order in which we store the key-value pairs also plays a role. In the versions before that, in contrast, the order has no meaning. In addition, the Python dictionary is also modifiable, i.e. after it has been created, elements can be changed, added, or deleted from the dictionary.

The most important feature of the Python dictionary is that duplicate key-value pairs are not allowed. In other data formats in Python, however, duplicate elements are allowed. If we want to add a key-value pair to the dictionary whose key already exists, the old pair is overwritten without notification.

How to query elements?

There are various information and elements that we can query from a dictionary.

As we have already seen, we can query the value by defining the associated key in square brackets. Similarly, the “get()” method returns the same result:

With the commands “.keys()” and “.values()” Python returns us a list of all keys and values. The order of the lists also corresponds to how they are stored in the dictionary. This also means that the list of values may contain duplicates.

On the other hand, if we want to retrieve the full key-value pairs, we use the “.items()” method, which returns the pairs as a list of tuples:

How can elements of a dictionary be changed?

If we want to change individual values within the Python dictionary, we can do this directly via the key. Since there must not be duplicate keys, the old value is simply overwritten. If we want to change multiple pairs at once, we use the “.update()” method and define the new key-value pairs in it.

How to delete elements?

If we want to delete a single element from the Python dictionary, we can either specify the key and use the “pop()” method to specifically delete the element, or use “popitem()” to delete the last added key-value pair:

Finally, you can clear the entire Python dictionary with the “clear()” method:

What is the difference between a Pandas Series and a Python Dictionary?

Although both Pandas Series and Python Dictionaries are key-value pairs, there are some important differences between them:

Indexing: in a Pandas Series, we can use a user-defined index that does not have to be numeric or sequential. In contrast, a Python dictionary can only use hashable objects as keys.
Order: a Pandas series is an ordered collection of data, while a Python Dictionary is unordered.
Data type: A Pandas series has a specific data type that applies to all elements in the series, while a Python Dictionary can have values of different types for each key.
Functions: A Pandas series has built-in functions for data manipulation and analysis, such as “describe()”, “mean()”, and “count()”. Python dictionaries, on the other hand, have no built-in functions for data manipulation or analysis.
Memory usage: A Pandas series uses more memory than a Python Dictionary because it stores data in a table format with index and column labels. In contrast, the Python dictionary stores only key-value pairs.

Which Python collections are available?

In Python, there are a total of four data types that are stored by default:

The list is an ordered collection of elements, which is changeable and can also contain duplicate elements.
The tuple is in effect a list, with the difference that it is no longer changeable. So no elements can be added or removed afterward.
The set does not allow duplicate entries. At the same time, the arrangement of the elements within the set is variable. The set itself can be changed, but the individual elements cannot be changed afterward.
Since Python version 3.7, a dictionary is an ordered collection of elements that can be changed. In the earlier versions, the dictionary is unordered.

This is what you should take with you

The Python Dictionary is one of four pre-installed data structures in Python.
It is used to store key-value pairs in a single variable.
The values of a dictionary can have different values. Besides a single scalar, lists, tuples, or new dictionaries can also be stored as values.

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