Python Dictionary get()

scores = {
    'Physics': 67, 
    'Maths': 87,
    'History': 75
}

result = scores.get('Physics')

print(result)    # 67

Syntax of Dictionary get()

The syntax of get() is:

dict.get(key[, value]) 

get() Parameters

get() method takes maximum of two parameters:

• key - key to be searched in the dictionary
• value (optional) - Value to be returned if the key is not found. The default value is None.

Return Value from get()

get() method returns:

• the value for the specified key if key is in the dictionary.
• None if the key is not found and value is not specified.
• value if the key is not found and value is specified.

Example 1: How does get() work for dictionaries?

person = {'name': 'Phill', 'age': 22}

print('Name: ', person.get('name'))

print('Age: ', person.get('age'))

# value is not provided
print('Salary: ', person.get('salary'))


# value is provided
print('Salary: ', person.get('salary', 0.0))

Output

Name:  Phill
Age:  22
Salary:  None
Salary:  0.0

Python get() method Vs dict[key] to Access Elements

get() method returns a default value if the key is missing.

However, if the key is not found when you use dict[key], KeyError exception is raised.

person = {}

# Using get() results in None
print('Salary: ', person.get('salary'))


# Using [] results in KeyError
print(person['salary'])

Output

Salary:  None
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 7, in 
    print(person['salary'])
KeyError: 'salary'

Recommended Reading: Python dictionary and how to work with them.