How can I add new keys to a dictionary?

Question

Is it possible to add a key to a Python dictionary after it has been created?

It doesn\'t seem to have an .add() method.

Answer 1

Let's pretend you want to live in the immutable world and do NOT want to modify the original but want to create a new dict that is the result of adding a new key to the original.

In Python 3.5+ you can do:

params = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
new_params = {**params, **{'c': 3}}

The Python 2 equivalent is:

params = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
new_params = dict(params, **{'c': 3})

After either of these:

params is still equal to {'a': 1, 'b': 2}

and

new_params is equal to {'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3}

There will be times when you don't want to modify the original (you only want the result of adding to the original). I find this a refreshing alternative to the following:

params = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
new_params = params.copy()
new_params['c'] = 3

or

params = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
new_params = params.copy()
new_params.update({'c': 3})

Reference: https://stackoverflow.com/a/2255892/514866

Answer 2

I feel like consolidating info about Python dictionaries:

Creating an empty dictionary

data = {}
# OR
data = dict()

Creating a dictionary with initial values

data = {'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3}
# OR
data = dict(a=1, b=2, c=3)
# OR
data = {k: v for k, v in (('a', 1), ('b',2), ('c',3))}

Inserting/Updating a single value

data['a'] = 1  # Updates if 'a' exists, else adds 'a'
# OR
data.update({'a': 1})
# OR
data.update(dict(a=1))
# OR
data.update(a=1)

Inserting/Updating multiple values

data.update({'c':3,'d':4})  # Updates 'c' and adds 'd'

Python 3.9+:

The update operator |= now works for dictionaries:

data |= {'c':3,'d':4}

Creating a merged dictionary without modifying originals

data3 = {}
data3.update(data)  # Modifies data3, not data
data3.update(data2)  # Modifies data3, not data2

Python 3.5+:

This uses a new feature called dictionary unpacking.

data = {**data1, **data2, **data3}

Python 3.9+:

The merge operator | now works for dictionaries:

data = data1 | {'c':3,'d':4}

Deleting items in dictionary

del data[key]  # Removes specific element in a dictionary
data.pop(key)  # Removes the key & returns the value
data.clear()  # Clears entire dictionary

Check if a key is already in dictionary

key in data

Iterate through pairs in a dictionary

for key in data: # Iterates just through the keys, ignoring the values
for key, value in d.items(): # Iterates through the pairs
for key in d.keys(): # Iterates just through key, ignoring the values
for value in d.values(): # Iterates just through value, ignoring the keys

Create a dictionary from two lists

data = dict(zip(list_with_keys, list_with_values))

Answer 3

If you're not joining two dictionaries, but adding new key-value pairs to a dictionary, then using the subscript notation seems like the best way.

import timeit

timeit.timeit('dictionary = {"karga": 1, "darga": 2}; dictionary.update({"aaa": 123123, "asd": 233})')
>> 0.49582505226135254

timeit.timeit('dictionary = {"karga": 1, "darga": 2}; dictionary["aaa"] = 123123; dictionary["asd"] = 233;')
>> 0.20782899856567383

However, if you'd like to add, for example, thousands of new key-value pairs, you should consider using the update() method.

Answer 4

If you want to add a dictionary within a dictionary you can do it this way.

Example: Add a new entry to your dictionary & sub dictionary

dictionary = {}
dictionary["new key"] = "some new entry" # add new dictionary entry
dictionary["dictionary_within_a_dictionary"] = {} # this is required by python
dictionary["dictionary_within_a_dictionary"]["sub_dict"] = {"other" : "dictionary"}
print (dictionary)

Output:

{'new key': 'some new entry', 'dictionary_within_a_dictionary': {'sub_dict': {'other': 'dictionarly'}}}

NOTE: Python requires that you first add a sub

dictionary["dictionary_within_a_dictionary"] = {}

before adding entries.