🚀 Boost Your Python Skills: Merging Dictionaries Simplified! 🐍

Hey LinkedIn Family! 🌟

Have you ever wondered how to merge two dictionaries in Python efficiently? Let's explore some cool methods to do this, both with and without creating new variables. 🧑💻💡 Plus, we'll peek under the hood to understand what's happening!

1. Using the update() Method 📈

• In-place modification:

dict1 = {"a": 1, "b": 2}

dict2 = {"b": 3, "c": 4}

dict1.update(dict2)

print(dict1)  # Output: {'a': 1, 'b': 3, 'c': 4}        

• Under the Hood: The update() method modifies dict1 in place. It iterates over dict2, adding or updating key-value pairs in dict1. This means dict1 retains its identity but gets new content from dict2.
• With new variable:

dict1 = {"a": 1, "b": 2}

dict2 = {"b": 3, "c": 4}

merged_dict = dict1.copy()

merged_dict.update(dict2)

print(merged_dict)  # Output: {'a': 1, 'b': 3, 'c': 4}        

• Under the Hood: We first create a shallow copy of dict1, then apply update() to the copy. This keeps the original dict1 intact and creates a merged dictionary in merged_dict.
• 🕒 Time Complexity: O(len(dict2))
• 📦 Space Complexity: O(1) for in-place, O(len(dict1) + len(dict2)) for new variable

2. Using the ** Operator (Python 3.5+) ✨

• Always creates a new variable:

dict1 = {"a": 1, "b": 2}

dict2 = {"b": 3, "c": 4}

merged_dict = {**dict1, **dict2}

print(merged_dict)  # Output: {'a': 1, 'b': 3, 'c': 4}        

• Under the Hood: The ** operator unpacks the contents of dict1 and dict2 into a new dictionary. If there are overlapping keys, the value from dict2 overwrites the value from dict1.
• 🕒 Time Complexity: O(len(dict1) + len(dict2))
• 📦 Space Complexity: O(len(dict1) + len(dict2))

3. Using the | Operator (Python 3.9+) 🆕

• Always creates a new variable:

dict1 = {"a": 1, "b": 2}

dict2 = {"b": 3, "c": 4}

merged_dict = dict1 | dict2

print(merged_dict)  # Output: {'a': 1, 'b': 3, 'c': 4}        

• Under the Hood: The | operator merges dictionaries by creating a new dictionary. It combines the keys and values, giving precedence to the second dictionary (dict2) for overlapping keys.
• 🕒 Time Complexity: O(len(dict1) + len(dict2))
• 📦 Space Complexity: O(len(dict1) + len(dict2))

4. Using Dictionary Comprehension 🌟

• Always creates a new variable:

dict1 = {"a": 1, "b": 2}

dict2 = {"b": 3, "c": 4}

merged_dict = {k: v for d in [dict1, dict2] for k, v in d.items()}

print(merged_dict)  # Output: {'a': 1, 'b': 3, 'c': 4}        

• Under the Hood: This method iterates over both dictionaries sequentially, creating a new dictionary with all key-value pairs. For overlapping keys, the value from the second dictionary (dict2) will overwrite the first (dict1).
• 🕒 Time Complexity: O(len(dict1) + len(dict2))
• 📦 Space Complexity: O(len(dict1) + len(dict2))

Summary 📚

• In-place modification: update() method is efficient when modifying the original dictionary.
• New dictionary creation: ** operator, | operator, and dictionary comprehension are perfect for creating new, merged dictionaries.

Which method do you find the most useful? Let me know in the comments! 💬👇

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