Every Python Dict Method Explained

Safe Reads

d = {"a": 1}
d.get("a")           # 1
d.get("b")           # None
d.get("b", 0)        # 0 (default)

Set Only If Missing

d.setdefault("c", [])
d["c"].append(5)

Merging

d.update({"b": 2})
d |= {"e": 5}    # 3.9+

Iteration

for k in d: ...
for v in d.values(): ...
for k, v in d.items(): ...

Removing

d.pop("a")         # remove & return
d.pop("x", None)   # safe
del d["b"]
d.clear()

Views Are Live

ks = d.keys()
d["z"] = 9
print(ks)          # includes 'z' — views update