Get with default — Dictionaries

8. Get with default

Reading dictionary[key] fails with KeyError when the key is missing. The get() method gives you a safer option:

key — the key to look for.
default — the value returned when the key is missing. Default: None.
If the key exists, get() returns its value. If not, it returns default.
get() never adds the key to the dictionary.

Coming from JavaScript? d.get("k", fallback) is the safe read, similar to d["k"] ?? fallback. It also treats a stored None as a present value, so it does not fall back in that case.

#01

Get an existing key

Create person = {"name": "Ada"}. Print the result of person.get("name").

Print exactly:

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#02

Get a missing key without a default

With person = {"name": "Ada"}, print the result of person.get("age"). Without a second argument, get() returns None.

Print exactly:

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#03

Get a missing key with a default

With person = {"name": "Ada"}, print the result of person.get("age", 0). The second argument is returned instead of None when the key is missing.

Print exactly:

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#04

get does not add the key

Create person = {"name": "Ada"}. Store person.get("age", 0) in a variable named age. Print age, then print person.

Print exactly:

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