My attempt to programmatically create a dictionary of lists is failing to allow me to individually address dictionary keys. Whenever I create the dictionary of lists and try to append to one key, all of them are updated. Here's a very simple test case:
data = {}
data = data.fromkeys(range(2),[])
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual result: {0: ['hello'], 1: ['hello']}
Expected result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Here's what works
data = {0:[],1:[]}
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual and Expected Result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Why is the fromkeys method not working as expected?
When [] is passed as the second argument to dict.fromkeys(), all values in the resulting dict will be the same list object.
In Python 2.7 or above, use a dict comprehension instead:
data = {k: [] for k in range(2)}
In earlier versions of Python, there is no dict comprehension, but a list comprehension can be passed to the dict constructor instead:
data = dict([(k, []) for k in range(2)])
In 2.4-2.6, it is also possible to pass a generator expression to dict, and the surrounding parentheses can be dropped:
data = dict((k, []) for k in range(2))
Try using a defaultdict instead:
from collections import defaultdict
data = defaultdict(list)
data[1].append('hello')
This way, the keys don't need to be initialized with empty lists ahead of time. The defaultdict() object instead calls the factory function given to it, every time a key is accessed that doesn't exist yet. So, in this example, attempting to access data[1] triggers data[1] = list() internally, giving that key a new empty list as its value.
The original code with .fromkeys shares one (mutable) list. Similarly,
alist = [1]
data = dict.fromkeys(range(2), alist)
alist.append(2)
print(data)
would output {0: [1, 2], 1: [1, 2]}. This is called out in the dict.fromkeys() documentation:
All of the values refer to just a single instance, so it generally doesn’t make sense for value to be a mutable object such as an empty list.
Another option is to use the dict.setdefault() method, which retrieves the value for a key after first checking it exists and setting a default if it doesn't. .append can then be called on the result:
data = {}
data.setdefault(1, []).append('hello')
Finally, to create a dictionary from a list of known keys and a given "template" list (where each value should start with the same elements, but be a distinct list), use a dictionary comprehension and copy the initial list:
alist = [1]
data = {key: alist[:] for key in range(2)}
Here, alist[:] creates a shallow copy of alist, and this is done separately for each value. See How do I clone a list so that it doesn't change unexpectedly after assignment? for more techniques for copying the list.
You could use a dict comprehension:
>>> keys = ['a','b','c']
>>> value = [0, 0]
>>> {key: list(value) for key in keys}
{'a': [0, 0], 'b': [0, 0], 'c': [0, 0]}
This answer is here to explain this behavior to anyone flummoxed by the results they get of trying to instantiate a dict with fromkeys() with a mutable default value in that dict.
Consider:
#Python 3.4.3 (default, Nov 17 2016, 01:08:31)
# start by validating that different variables pointing to an
# empty mutable are indeed different references.
>>> l1 = []
>>> l2 = []
>>> id(l1)
140150323815176
>>> id(l2)
140150324024968
so any change to l1 will not affect l2 and vice versa.
this would be true for any mutable so far, including a dict.
# create a new dict from an iterable of keys
>>> dict1 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], [])
>>> dict1
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
this can be a handy function.
here we are assigning to each key a default value which also happens to be an empty list.
# the dict has its own id.
>>> id(dict1)
140150327601160
# but look at the ids of the values.
>>> id(dict1['a'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
Indeed they are all using the same ref!
A change to one is a change to all, since they are in fact the same object!
>>> dict1['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict1
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
>>> id(dict1['a'])
>>> 140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
for many, this was not what was intended!
Now let's try it with making an explicit copy of the list being used as a the default value.
>>> empty_list = []
>>> id(empty_list)
140150324169864
and now create a dict with a copy of empty_list.
>>> dict2 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], empty_list[:])
>>> id(dict2)
140150323831432
>>> id(dict2['a'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['b'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['c'])
140150327184328
>>> dict2['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict2
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
Still no joy!
I hear someone shout, it's because I used an empty list!
>>> not_empty_list = [0]
>>> dict3 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], not_empty_list[:])
>>> dict3
{'c': [0], 'b': [0], 'a': [0]}
>>> dict3['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict3
{'c': [0, 'apples'], 'b': [0, 'apples'], 'a': [0, 'apples']}
The default behavior of fromkeys() is to assign None to the value.
>>> dict4 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'])
>>> dict4
{'c': None, 'b': None, 'a': None}
>>> id(dict4['a'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['b'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['c'])
9901984
Indeed, all of the values are the same (and the only!) None.
Now, let's iterate, in one of a myriad number of ways, through the dict and change the value.
>>> for k, _ in dict4.items():
... dict4[k] = []
>>> dict4
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
Hmm. Looks the same as before!
>>> id(dict4['a'])
140150318876488
>>> id(dict4['b'])
140150324122824
>>> id(dict4['c'])
140150294277576
>>> dict4['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict4
>>> {'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': ['apples']}
But they are indeed different []s, which was in this case the intended result.
You can use this:
l = ['a', 'b', 'c']
d = dict((k, [0, 0]) for k in l)
You are populating your dictionaries with references to a single list so when you update it, the update is reflected across all the references. Try a dictionary comprehension instead. See
Create a dictionary with list comprehension in Python
d = {k : v for k in blah blah blah}
You could use this:
data[:1] = ['hello']
Related
My attempt to programmatically create a dictionary of lists is failing to allow me to individually address dictionary keys. Whenever I create the dictionary of lists and try to append to one key, all of them are updated. Here's a very simple test case:
data = {}
data = data.fromkeys(range(2),[])
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual result: {0: ['hello'], 1: ['hello']}
Expected result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Here's what works
data = {0:[],1:[]}
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual and Expected Result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Why is the fromkeys method not working as expected?
When [] is passed as the second argument to dict.fromkeys(), all values in the resulting dict will be the same list object.
In Python 2.7 or above, use a dict comprehension instead:
data = {k: [] for k in range(2)}
In earlier versions of Python, there is no dict comprehension, but a list comprehension can be passed to the dict constructor instead:
data = dict([(k, []) for k in range(2)])
In 2.4-2.6, it is also possible to pass a generator expression to dict, and the surrounding parentheses can be dropped:
data = dict((k, []) for k in range(2))
Try using a defaultdict instead:
from collections import defaultdict
data = defaultdict(list)
data[1].append('hello')
This way, the keys don't need to be initialized with empty lists ahead of time. The defaultdict() object instead calls the factory function given to it, every time a key is accessed that doesn't exist yet. So, in this example, attempting to access data[1] triggers data[1] = list() internally, giving that key a new empty list as its value.
The original code with .fromkeys shares one (mutable) list. Similarly,
alist = [1]
data = dict.fromkeys(range(2), alist)
alist.append(2)
print(data)
would output {0: [1, 2], 1: [1, 2]}. This is called out in the dict.fromkeys() documentation:
All of the values refer to just a single instance, so it generally doesn’t make sense for value to be a mutable object such as an empty list.
Another option is to use the dict.setdefault() method, which retrieves the value for a key after first checking it exists and setting a default if it doesn't. .append can then be called on the result:
data = {}
data.setdefault(1, []).append('hello')
Finally, to create a dictionary from a list of known keys and a given "template" list (where each value should start with the same elements, but be a distinct list), use a dictionary comprehension and copy the initial list:
alist = [1]
data = {key: alist[:] for key in range(2)}
Here, alist[:] creates a shallow copy of alist, and this is done separately for each value. See How do I clone a list so that it doesn't change unexpectedly after assignment? for more techniques for copying the list.
You could use a dict comprehension:
>>> keys = ['a','b','c']
>>> value = [0, 0]
>>> {key: list(value) for key in keys}
{'a': [0, 0], 'b': [0, 0], 'c': [0, 0]}
This answer is here to explain this behavior to anyone flummoxed by the results they get of trying to instantiate a dict with fromkeys() with a mutable default value in that dict.
Consider:
#Python 3.4.3 (default, Nov 17 2016, 01:08:31)
# start by validating that different variables pointing to an
# empty mutable are indeed different references.
>>> l1 = []
>>> l2 = []
>>> id(l1)
140150323815176
>>> id(l2)
140150324024968
so any change to l1 will not affect l2 and vice versa.
this would be true for any mutable so far, including a dict.
# create a new dict from an iterable of keys
>>> dict1 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], [])
>>> dict1
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
this can be a handy function.
here we are assigning to each key a default value which also happens to be an empty list.
# the dict has its own id.
>>> id(dict1)
140150327601160
# but look at the ids of the values.
>>> id(dict1['a'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
Indeed they are all using the same ref!
A change to one is a change to all, since they are in fact the same object!
>>> dict1['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict1
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
>>> id(dict1['a'])
>>> 140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
for many, this was not what was intended!
Now let's try it with making an explicit copy of the list being used as a the default value.
>>> empty_list = []
>>> id(empty_list)
140150324169864
and now create a dict with a copy of empty_list.
>>> dict2 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], empty_list[:])
>>> id(dict2)
140150323831432
>>> id(dict2['a'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['b'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['c'])
140150327184328
>>> dict2['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict2
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
Still no joy!
I hear someone shout, it's because I used an empty list!
>>> not_empty_list = [0]
>>> dict3 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], not_empty_list[:])
>>> dict3
{'c': [0], 'b': [0], 'a': [0]}
>>> dict3['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict3
{'c': [0, 'apples'], 'b': [0, 'apples'], 'a': [0, 'apples']}
The default behavior of fromkeys() is to assign None to the value.
>>> dict4 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'])
>>> dict4
{'c': None, 'b': None, 'a': None}
>>> id(dict4['a'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['b'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['c'])
9901984
Indeed, all of the values are the same (and the only!) None.
Now, let's iterate, in one of a myriad number of ways, through the dict and change the value.
>>> for k, _ in dict4.items():
... dict4[k] = []
>>> dict4
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
Hmm. Looks the same as before!
>>> id(dict4['a'])
140150318876488
>>> id(dict4['b'])
140150324122824
>>> id(dict4['c'])
140150294277576
>>> dict4['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict4
>>> {'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': ['apples']}
But they are indeed different []s, which was in this case the intended result.
You can use this:
l = ['a', 'b', 'c']
d = dict((k, [0, 0]) for k in l)
You are populating your dictionaries with references to a single list so when you update it, the update is reflected across all the references. Try a dictionary comprehension instead. See
Create a dictionary with list comprehension in Python
d = {k : v for k in blah blah blah}
You could use this:
data[:1] = ['hello']
My attempt to programmatically create a dictionary of lists is failing to allow me to individually address dictionary keys. Whenever I create the dictionary of lists and try to append to one key, all of them are updated. Here's a very simple test case:
data = {}
data = data.fromkeys(range(2),[])
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual result: {0: ['hello'], 1: ['hello']}
Expected result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Here's what works
data = {0:[],1:[]}
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual and Expected Result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Why is the fromkeys method not working as expected?
When [] is passed as the second argument to dict.fromkeys(), all values in the resulting dict will be the same list object.
In Python 2.7 or above, use a dict comprehension instead:
data = {k: [] for k in range(2)}
In earlier versions of Python, there is no dict comprehension, but a list comprehension can be passed to the dict constructor instead:
data = dict([(k, []) for k in range(2)])
In 2.4-2.6, it is also possible to pass a generator expression to dict, and the surrounding parentheses can be dropped:
data = dict((k, []) for k in range(2))
Try using a defaultdict instead:
from collections import defaultdict
data = defaultdict(list)
data[1].append('hello')
This way, the keys don't need to be initialized with empty lists ahead of time. The defaultdict() object instead calls the factory function given to it, every time a key is accessed that doesn't exist yet. So, in this example, attempting to access data[1] triggers data[1] = list() internally, giving that key a new empty list as its value.
The original code with .fromkeys shares one (mutable) list. Similarly,
alist = [1]
data = dict.fromkeys(range(2), alist)
alist.append(2)
print(data)
would output {0: [1, 2], 1: [1, 2]}. This is called out in the dict.fromkeys() documentation:
All of the values refer to just a single instance, so it generally doesn’t make sense for value to be a mutable object such as an empty list.
Another option is to use the dict.setdefault() method, which retrieves the value for a key after first checking it exists and setting a default if it doesn't. .append can then be called on the result:
data = {}
data.setdefault(1, []).append('hello')
Finally, to create a dictionary from a list of known keys and a given "template" list (where each value should start with the same elements, but be a distinct list), use a dictionary comprehension and copy the initial list:
alist = [1]
data = {key: alist[:] for key in range(2)}
Here, alist[:] creates a shallow copy of alist, and this is done separately for each value. See How do I clone a list so that it doesn't change unexpectedly after assignment? for more techniques for copying the list.
You could use a dict comprehension:
>>> keys = ['a','b','c']
>>> value = [0, 0]
>>> {key: list(value) for key in keys}
{'a': [0, 0], 'b': [0, 0], 'c': [0, 0]}
This answer is here to explain this behavior to anyone flummoxed by the results they get of trying to instantiate a dict with fromkeys() with a mutable default value in that dict.
Consider:
#Python 3.4.3 (default, Nov 17 2016, 01:08:31)
# start by validating that different variables pointing to an
# empty mutable are indeed different references.
>>> l1 = []
>>> l2 = []
>>> id(l1)
140150323815176
>>> id(l2)
140150324024968
so any change to l1 will not affect l2 and vice versa.
this would be true for any mutable so far, including a dict.
# create a new dict from an iterable of keys
>>> dict1 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], [])
>>> dict1
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
this can be a handy function.
here we are assigning to each key a default value which also happens to be an empty list.
# the dict has its own id.
>>> id(dict1)
140150327601160
# but look at the ids of the values.
>>> id(dict1['a'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
Indeed they are all using the same ref!
A change to one is a change to all, since they are in fact the same object!
>>> dict1['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict1
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
>>> id(dict1['a'])
>>> 140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
for many, this was not what was intended!
Now let's try it with making an explicit copy of the list being used as a the default value.
>>> empty_list = []
>>> id(empty_list)
140150324169864
and now create a dict with a copy of empty_list.
>>> dict2 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], empty_list[:])
>>> id(dict2)
140150323831432
>>> id(dict2['a'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['b'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['c'])
140150327184328
>>> dict2['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict2
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
Still no joy!
I hear someone shout, it's because I used an empty list!
>>> not_empty_list = [0]
>>> dict3 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], not_empty_list[:])
>>> dict3
{'c': [0], 'b': [0], 'a': [0]}
>>> dict3['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict3
{'c': [0, 'apples'], 'b': [0, 'apples'], 'a': [0, 'apples']}
The default behavior of fromkeys() is to assign None to the value.
>>> dict4 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'])
>>> dict4
{'c': None, 'b': None, 'a': None}
>>> id(dict4['a'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['b'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['c'])
9901984
Indeed, all of the values are the same (and the only!) None.
Now, let's iterate, in one of a myriad number of ways, through the dict and change the value.
>>> for k, _ in dict4.items():
... dict4[k] = []
>>> dict4
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
Hmm. Looks the same as before!
>>> id(dict4['a'])
140150318876488
>>> id(dict4['b'])
140150324122824
>>> id(dict4['c'])
140150294277576
>>> dict4['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict4
>>> {'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': ['apples']}
But they are indeed different []s, which was in this case the intended result.
You can use this:
l = ['a', 'b', 'c']
d = dict((k, [0, 0]) for k in l)
You are populating your dictionaries with references to a single list so when you update it, the update is reflected across all the references. Try a dictionary comprehension instead. See
Create a dictionary with list comprehension in Python
d = {k : v for k in blah blah blah}
You could use this:
data[:1] = ['hello']
My attempt to programmatically create a dictionary of lists is failing to allow me to individually address dictionary keys. Whenever I create the dictionary of lists and try to append to one key, all of them are updated. Here's a very simple test case:
data = {}
data = data.fromkeys(range(2),[])
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual result: {0: ['hello'], 1: ['hello']}
Expected result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Here's what works
data = {0:[],1:[]}
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual and Expected Result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Why is the fromkeys method not working as expected?
When [] is passed as the second argument to dict.fromkeys(), all values in the resulting dict will be the same list object.
In Python 2.7 or above, use a dict comprehension instead:
data = {k: [] for k in range(2)}
In earlier versions of Python, there is no dict comprehension, but a list comprehension can be passed to the dict constructor instead:
data = dict([(k, []) for k in range(2)])
In 2.4-2.6, it is also possible to pass a generator expression to dict, and the surrounding parentheses can be dropped:
data = dict((k, []) for k in range(2))
Try using a defaultdict instead:
from collections import defaultdict
data = defaultdict(list)
data[1].append('hello')
This way, the keys don't need to be initialized with empty lists ahead of time. The defaultdict() object instead calls the factory function given to it, every time a key is accessed that doesn't exist yet. So, in this example, attempting to access data[1] triggers data[1] = list() internally, giving that key a new empty list as its value.
The original code with .fromkeys shares one (mutable) list. Similarly,
alist = [1]
data = dict.fromkeys(range(2), alist)
alist.append(2)
print(data)
would output {0: [1, 2], 1: [1, 2]}. This is called out in the dict.fromkeys() documentation:
All of the values refer to just a single instance, so it generally doesn’t make sense for value to be a mutable object such as an empty list.
Another option is to use the dict.setdefault() method, which retrieves the value for a key after first checking it exists and setting a default if it doesn't. .append can then be called on the result:
data = {}
data.setdefault(1, []).append('hello')
Finally, to create a dictionary from a list of known keys and a given "template" list (where each value should start with the same elements, but be a distinct list), use a dictionary comprehension and copy the initial list:
alist = [1]
data = {key: alist[:] for key in range(2)}
Here, alist[:] creates a shallow copy of alist, and this is done separately for each value. See How do I clone a list so that it doesn't change unexpectedly after assignment? for more techniques for copying the list.
You could use a dict comprehension:
>>> keys = ['a','b','c']
>>> value = [0, 0]
>>> {key: list(value) for key in keys}
{'a': [0, 0], 'b': [0, 0], 'c': [0, 0]}
This answer is here to explain this behavior to anyone flummoxed by the results they get of trying to instantiate a dict with fromkeys() with a mutable default value in that dict.
Consider:
#Python 3.4.3 (default, Nov 17 2016, 01:08:31)
# start by validating that different variables pointing to an
# empty mutable are indeed different references.
>>> l1 = []
>>> l2 = []
>>> id(l1)
140150323815176
>>> id(l2)
140150324024968
so any change to l1 will not affect l2 and vice versa.
this would be true for any mutable so far, including a dict.
# create a new dict from an iterable of keys
>>> dict1 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], [])
>>> dict1
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
this can be a handy function.
here we are assigning to each key a default value which also happens to be an empty list.
# the dict has its own id.
>>> id(dict1)
140150327601160
# but look at the ids of the values.
>>> id(dict1['a'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
Indeed they are all using the same ref!
A change to one is a change to all, since they are in fact the same object!
>>> dict1['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict1
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
>>> id(dict1['a'])
>>> 140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
for many, this was not what was intended!
Now let's try it with making an explicit copy of the list being used as a the default value.
>>> empty_list = []
>>> id(empty_list)
140150324169864
and now create a dict with a copy of empty_list.
>>> dict2 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], empty_list[:])
>>> id(dict2)
140150323831432
>>> id(dict2['a'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['b'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['c'])
140150327184328
>>> dict2['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict2
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
Still no joy!
I hear someone shout, it's because I used an empty list!
>>> not_empty_list = [0]
>>> dict3 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], not_empty_list[:])
>>> dict3
{'c': [0], 'b': [0], 'a': [0]}
>>> dict3['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict3
{'c': [0, 'apples'], 'b': [0, 'apples'], 'a': [0, 'apples']}
The default behavior of fromkeys() is to assign None to the value.
>>> dict4 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'])
>>> dict4
{'c': None, 'b': None, 'a': None}
>>> id(dict4['a'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['b'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['c'])
9901984
Indeed, all of the values are the same (and the only!) None.
Now, let's iterate, in one of a myriad number of ways, through the dict and change the value.
>>> for k, _ in dict4.items():
... dict4[k] = []
>>> dict4
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
Hmm. Looks the same as before!
>>> id(dict4['a'])
140150318876488
>>> id(dict4['b'])
140150324122824
>>> id(dict4['c'])
140150294277576
>>> dict4['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict4
>>> {'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': ['apples']}
But they are indeed different []s, which was in this case the intended result.
You can use this:
l = ['a', 'b', 'c']
d = dict((k, [0, 0]) for k in l)
You are populating your dictionaries with references to a single list so when you update it, the update is reflected across all the references. Try a dictionary comprehension instead. See
Create a dictionary with list comprehension in Python
d = {k : v for k in blah blah blah}
You could use this:
data[:1] = ['hello']
My attempt to programmatically create a dictionary of lists is failing to allow me to individually address dictionary keys. Whenever I create the dictionary of lists and try to append to one key, all of them are updated. Here's a very simple test case:
data = {}
data = data.fromkeys(range(2),[])
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual result: {0: ['hello'], 1: ['hello']}
Expected result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Here's what works
data = {0:[],1:[]}
data[1].append('hello')
print data
Actual and Expected Result: {0: [], 1: ['hello']}
Why is the fromkeys method not working as expected?
When [] is passed as the second argument to dict.fromkeys(), all values in the resulting dict will be the same list object.
In Python 2.7 or above, use a dict comprehension instead:
data = {k: [] for k in range(2)}
In earlier versions of Python, there is no dict comprehension, but a list comprehension can be passed to the dict constructor instead:
data = dict([(k, []) for k in range(2)])
In 2.4-2.6, it is also possible to pass a generator expression to dict, and the surrounding parentheses can be dropped:
data = dict((k, []) for k in range(2))
Try using a defaultdict instead:
from collections import defaultdict
data = defaultdict(list)
data[1].append('hello')
This way, the keys don't need to be initialized with empty lists ahead of time. The defaultdict() object instead calls the factory function given to it, every time a key is accessed that doesn't exist yet. So, in this example, attempting to access data[1] triggers data[1] = list() internally, giving that key a new empty list as its value.
The original code with .fromkeys shares one (mutable) list. Similarly,
alist = [1]
data = dict.fromkeys(range(2), alist)
alist.append(2)
print(data)
would output {0: [1, 2], 1: [1, 2]}. This is called out in the dict.fromkeys() documentation:
All of the values refer to just a single instance, so it generally doesn’t make sense for value to be a mutable object such as an empty list.
Another option is to use the dict.setdefault() method, which retrieves the value for a key after first checking it exists and setting a default if it doesn't. .append can then be called on the result:
data = {}
data.setdefault(1, []).append('hello')
Finally, to create a dictionary from a list of known keys and a given "template" list (where each value should start with the same elements, but be a distinct list), use a dictionary comprehension and copy the initial list:
alist = [1]
data = {key: alist[:] for key in range(2)}
Here, alist[:] creates a shallow copy of alist, and this is done separately for each value. See How do I clone a list so that it doesn't change unexpectedly after assignment? for more techniques for copying the list.
You could use a dict comprehension:
>>> keys = ['a','b','c']
>>> value = [0, 0]
>>> {key: list(value) for key in keys}
{'a': [0, 0], 'b': [0, 0], 'c': [0, 0]}
This answer is here to explain this behavior to anyone flummoxed by the results they get of trying to instantiate a dict with fromkeys() with a mutable default value in that dict.
Consider:
#Python 3.4.3 (default, Nov 17 2016, 01:08:31)
# start by validating that different variables pointing to an
# empty mutable are indeed different references.
>>> l1 = []
>>> l2 = []
>>> id(l1)
140150323815176
>>> id(l2)
140150324024968
so any change to l1 will not affect l2 and vice versa.
this would be true for any mutable so far, including a dict.
# create a new dict from an iterable of keys
>>> dict1 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], [])
>>> dict1
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
this can be a handy function.
here we are assigning to each key a default value which also happens to be an empty list.
# the dict has its own id.
>>> id(dict1)
140150327601160
# but look at the ids of the values.
>>> id(dict1['a'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
Indeed they are all using the same ref!
A change to one is a change to all, since they are in fact the same object!
>>> dict1['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict1
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
>>> id(dict1['a'])
>>> 140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['b'])
140150323816328
>>> id(dict1['c'])
140150323816328
for many, this was not what was intended!
Now let's try it with making an explicit copy of the list being used as a the default value.
>>> empty_list = []
>>> id(empty_list)
140150324169864
and now create a dict with a copy of empty_list.
>>> dict2 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], empty_list[:])
>>> id(dict2)
140150323831432
>>> id(dict2['a'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['b'])
140150327184328
>>> id(dict2['c'])
140150327184328
>>> dict2['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict2
{'c': ['apples'], 'b': ['apples'], 'a': ['apples']}
Still no joy!
I hear someone shout, it's because I used an empty list!
>>> not_empty_list = [0]
>>> dict3 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'], not_empty_list[:])
>>> dict3
{'c': [0], 'b': [0], 'a': [0]}
>>> dict3['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict3
{'c': [0, 'apples'], 'b': [0, 'apples'], 'a': [0, 'apples']}
The default behavior of fromkeys() is to assign None to the value.
>>> dict4 = dict.fromkeys(['a', 'b', 'c'])
>>> dict4
{'c': None, 'b': None, 'a': None}
>>> id(dict4['a'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['b'])
9901984
>>> id(dict4['c'])
9901984
Indeed, all of the values are the same (and the only!) None.
Now, let's iterate, in one of a myriad number of ways, through the dict and change the value.
>>> for k, _ in dict4.items():
... dict4[k] = []
>>> dict4
{'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': []}
Hmm. Looks the same as before!
>>> id(dict4['a'])
140150318876488
>>> id(dict4['b'])
140150324122824
>>> id(dict4['c'])
140150294277576
>>> dict4['a'].append('apples')
>>> dict4
>>> {'c': [], 'b': [], 'a': ['apples']}
But they are indeed different []s, which was in this case the intended result.
You can use this:
l = ['a', 'b', 'c']
d = dict((k, [0, 0]) for k in l)
You are populating your dictionaries with references to a single list so when you update it, the update is reflected across all the references. Try a dictionary comprehension instead. See
Create a dictionary with list comprehension in Python
d = {k : v for k in blah blah blah}
You could use this:
data[:1] = ['hello']
I'm working on an assignment. Is there anyway a dictionary can have duplicate keys and hold the same or different values. Here is an example of what i'm trying to do:
dict = {
'Key1' : 'Helo', 'World'
'Key1' : 'Helo'
'Key1' : 'Helo', 'World'
}
I tried doing this but when I associate any value to key1, it gets added to the same key1.
Is this possible with a dictionary? If not what other data structure I can use to implement this process?
Use dictionaries of lists to hold multiple values.
One way to have multiple values to a key is to use a dictionary of lists.
x = { 'Key1' : ['Hello', 'World'],
'Key2' : ['Howdy', 'Neighbor'],
'Key3' : ['Hey', 'Dude']
}
To get the list you want (or make a new one), I recommend using setdefault.
my_list = x.setdefault(key, [])
Example:
>>> x = {}
>>> x['abc'] = [1,2,3,4]
>>> x
{'abc': [1, 2, 3, 4]}
>>> x.setdefault('xyz', [])
[]
>>> x.setdefault('abc', [])
[1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> x
{'xyz': [], 'abc': [1, 2, 3, 4]}
Using defaultdict for the same functionality
To make this even easier, the collections module has a defaultdict object that simplifies this. Just pass it a constructor/factory.
from collections import defaultdict
x = defaultdict(list)
x['key1'].append(12)
x['key1'].append(13)
You can also use dictionaries of dictionaries or even dictionaries of sets.
>>> from collections import defaultdict
>>> dd = defaultdict(dict)
>>> dd
defaultdict(<type 'dict'>, {})
>>> dd['x']['a'] = 23
>>> dd
defaultdict(<type 'dict'>, {'x': {'a': 23}})
>>> dd['x']['b'] = 46
>>> dd['y']['a'] = 12
>>> dd
defaultdict(<type 'dict'>, {'y': {'a': 12}, 'x': {'a': 23, 'b': 46}})
I think you want collections.defaultdict:
from collections import defaultdict
d = defaultdict(list)
list_of_values = [['Hello', 'World'], 'Hello', ['Hello', 'World']]
for v in list_of_values:
d['Key1'].append(v)
print d
This will deal with duplicate keys, and instead of overwriting the key, it will append something to that list of values.
Keys are unique to the data. Consider using some other value for a key or consider using a different data structure to hold this data.
for example:
don't use a persons address as a unique key because several people might live there.
a person's social security number or a drivers license is a much better unique id of a person.
you can create your own id to force it to be unique.