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Defaultdict in Python

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Dictionary in Python is an unordered collection of data values that are used to store data values like a map. Unlike other Data Types that hold only single value as an element, the Dictionary holds key-value pair. In Dictionary, the key must be unique and immutable. This means that a Python Tuple can be a key whereas a Python List can not. A Dictionary can be created by placing a sequence of elements within curly {} braces, separated by ‘comma’.

Example:

Python3




# Python program to demonstrate
# dictionary
  
  
Dict = {1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 'Geeks'
print("Dictionary:"
print(Dict)
print(Dict[1])
  
# Uncommenting this print(Dict[4])
# will raise a KeyError as the
# 4 is not present in the dictionary


Output:

Dictionary:
{1: 'Geeks', 2: 'For', 3: 'Geeks'}
Geeks
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/1ca83108cc81344dc7137900693ced08.py", line 11, in 
    print(Dict[4])
KeyError: 4

Sometimes, when the KeyError is raised, it might become a problem. To overcome this Python introduces another dictionary like container known as Defaultdict which is present inside the collections module.
Note: For more information, refer to Python Dictionary.
 

DefaultDict

Defaultdict is a container like dictionaries present in the module collections. Defaultdict is a sub-class of the dictionary class that returns a dictionary-like object. The functionality of both dictionaries and defaultdict are almost same except for the fact that defaultdict never raises a KeyError. It provides a default value for the key that does not exists.

Syntax: defaultdict(default_factory)
Parameters:  

  • default_factory: A function returning the default value for the dictionary defined. If this argument is absent then the dictionary raises a KeyError.

Example:

Python3




# Python program to demonstrate
# defaultdict
  
  
from collections import defaultdict
  
  
# Function to return a default
# values for keys that is not
# present
def def_value():
    return "Not Present"
      
# Defining the dict
d = defaultdict(def_value)
d["a"] = 1
d["b"] = 2
  
print(d["a"])
print(d["b"])
print(d["c"])


Output:

1
2
Not Present 

Inner Working of defaultdict

Defaultdict adds one writable instance variable and one method in addition to the standard dictionary operations. The instance variable is the default_factory parameter and the method provided is __missing__.

  • Default_factory: It is a function returning the default value for the dictionary defined. If this argument is absent then the dictionary raises a KeyError.
    Example:

Python3




# Python program to demonstrate
# default_factory argument of 
# defaultdict
  
  
from collections import defaultdict
  
      
# Defining the dict and passing 
# lambda as default_factory argument
d = defaultdict(lambda: "Not Present")
d["a"] = 1
d["b"] = 2
  
print(d["a"])
print(d["b"])
print(d["c"])


Output:

1
2
Not Present
  • __missing__(): This function is used to provide the default value for the dictionary. This function takes default_factory as an argument and if this argument is None, a KeyError is raised otherwise it provides a default value for the given key. This method is basically called by the __getitem__() method of the dict class when the requested key is not found. __getitem__() raises or return the value returned by the __missing__(). method.
    Example:

Python3




# Python program to demonstrate
# defaultdict
  
  
from collections import defaultdict
  
      
# Defining the dict
d = defaultdict(lambda: "Not Present")
d["a"] = 1
d["b"] = 2
  
# Provides the default value 
# for the key
print(d.__missing__('a'))
print(d.__missing__('d'))


Output:

Not Present
Not Present 

Using List as default_factory

When the list class is passed as the default_factory argument, then a defaultdict is created with the values that are list.
Example:

Python3




# Python program to demonstrate
# defaultdict
  
  
from collections import defaultdict
  
  
# Defining a dict
d = defaultdict(list)
  
for i in range(5):
    d[i].append(i)
      
print("Dictionary with values as list:")
print(d)


Output:

Dictionary with values as list:
defaultdict(<class 'list'>, {0: [0], 1: [1], 2: [2], 3: [3], 4: [4]})

Using int as default_factory

When the int class is passed as the default_factory argument, then a defaultdict is created with default value as zero.
Example:

Python3




# Python program to demonstrate
# defaultdict
   
   
from collections import defaultdict
   
   
# Defining the dict
d = defaultdict(int)
   
L = [1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 1, 2]
   
# Iterate through the list
# for keeping the count
for i in L:
       
    # The default value is 0
    # so there is no need to 
    # enter the key first
    d[i] += 1
       
print(d)


Output:

defaultdict(<class 'int'>, {1: 2, 2: 3, 3: 1, 4: 2})


Last Updated : 10 Jan, 2023
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