How to return dictionary keys as a list in Python?

Posted By: user2015601

In Python 2.7, I could get dictionary keys, values, or items as a list:

>>> newdict = {1:0, 2:0, 3:0}
>>> newdict.keys()
[1, 2, 3]

Now, in Python >= 3.3, I get something like this:

>>> newdict.keys()
dict_keys([1, 2, 3])

So, I have to do this to get a list:

newlist = list()
for i in newdict.keys():
    newlist.append(i)

I’m wondering, is there a better way to return a list in Python 3?

Solution

Try list(newdict.keys()).

This will convert the dict_keys object to a list.

On the other hand, you should ask yourself whether or not it matters. The Pythonic way to code is to assume duck typing (if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck). The dict_keys object will act like a list for most purposes. For instance:

for key in newdict.keys():
  print(key)

Obviously, insertion operators may not work, but that doesn’t make much sense for a list of dictionary keys anyway.

Answered By: Anonymous

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