In Python, dictionaries are a built-in data structure, and they come with various built-in functions
(technically, methods) that allow you to manipulate and interact with dictionary data. Here are the
main built-in functions that are applicable to dictionaries:
Common Python Built-in Functions Used with Dictionaries
1. len()
Returns the number of items (key-value pairs) in the dictionary.
person = {"name": "John", "age": 30, "city": "New York"}
print(len(person)) # Output: 3
type()
Returns the type of the dictionary object.
person = {"name": "John", "age": 30}
print(type(person)) # Output: <class 'dict'>
str()
Converts the dictionary to its string representation
person = {"name": "John", "age": 30}
print(str(person)) # Output: "{'name': 'John', 'age': 30}"
dict()
This is the built-in Python constructor to create a dictionary.
new_dict = dict(name="John", age=30)
print(new_dict) # Output: {'name': 'John', 'age': 30}
max()
Returns the maximum key in the dictionary. By default, it compares the keys (not values).
data = {1: "a", 2: "b", 3: "c"}
print(max(data)) # Output: 3
min()
Returns the minimum key in the dictionary.
data = {1: "a", 2: "b", 3: "c"}
print(min(data)) # Output: 1
sorted()
Returns a sorted list of the dictionary's keys.
data = {3: "c", 1: "a", 2: "b"}
print(sorted(data)) # Output: [1, 2, 3]
all()
Returns True if all keys in the dictionary are truthy, or if the dictionary is empty.
data = {1: "a", 2: "b", 0: "c"} # 0 is falsy
print(all(data)) # Output: False
any()
Returns True if at least one key in the dictionary is truthy. If the dictionary is empty, it returns False.
data = {0: "a", 0: "b", 3: "c"} # 3 is truthy
print(any(data)) # Output: True
sum()
Returns the sum of the keys (only works if keys are numeric).
person = {"name": "John", "age": 30, "city": "New York"}
# Get the length of the dictionary (number of key-value pairs)
print(len(person)) # Output: 3
# Get the type of the object
print(type(person)) # Output: <class 'dict'>
# Convert the dictionary to a string representation
print(str(person)) # Output: "{'name': 'John', 'age': 30, 'city': 'New York'}"
# Create a dictionary using the dict() constructor
new_dict = dict(name="Alice", age=25)
print(new_dict) # Output: {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 25}
# Get the maximum key
data = {1: "a", 2: "b", 3: "c"}
print(max(data)) # Output: 3
# Get the minimum key
print(min(data)) # Output: 1
# Sort the dictionary keys
print(sorted(data)) # Output: [1, 2, 3]
# Check if all keys are truthy
print(all(data)) # Output: True
# Check if any key is truthy
print(any(data)) # Output: True
# Get the sum of the keys
print(sum(data)) # Output: 6
Example Summary:
person = {"name": "John", "age": 30, "city": "New York"}
# Get the length of the dictionary (number of key-value pairs)
print(len(person)) # Output: 3
# Get the type of the object
print(type(person)) # Output: <class 'dict'>
# Convert the dictionary to a string representation
print(str(person)) # Output: "{'name': 'John', 'age': 30, 'city': 'New York'}"
# Create a dictionary using the dict() constructor
new_dict = dict(name="Alice", age=25)
print(new_dict) # Output: {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 25}
# Get the maximum key
data = {1: "a", 2: "b", 3: "c"}
print(max(data)) # Output: 3
# Get the minimum key
print(min(data)) # Output: 1
# Sort the dictionary keys
print(sorted(data)) # Output: [1, 2, 3]
# Check if all keys are truthy
print(all(data)) # Output: True
# Check if any key is truthy
print(any(data)) # Output: True
# Get the sum of the keys
print(sum(data)) # Output: 6
