# Creating a Python dict with the dict() syntax

Fri Jan 08 2021

Today I learned that you can create a dict in Python using the function-calling syntax:

dict(
  key1=value1,
  key2=value2
)

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Contrast this to the usual way of creating a dict:

{
  "key1": value1,
  "key2": value2
}

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Where I'd like to start using the dict() syntax more often is when I'll be unpacking (opens new window) the dict as keyword arguments to a function. Why?

It's easier to copy/cut and paste from method parameters.
No need for typing out quotations around the keys.
It's easier to read as method parameters. Like this:

d = dict(
  param1=value1,
  param2=value2
)

d['param3'] = value3

my_method(**d)

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# Creating a Python dict with the dict() syntax

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