How to input a list of dictionaries from the user in python?

Question

I've tried below code but it overwrites and makes duplicate of the last dictionary inputted.

name_lists=[]
d = {}
flag = ""
while(flag != "N"):
    d["name"] = input("Enter a name: ")
    d["surname"] = input("Enter a surname: ")
    d["patronmic"] = input("Enter a patronmic: ")
    d["id_number"] = input("Enter a worker's id number: ")
    name_lists.append(d)
    flag = input("Continue inputting data Y/N: ")
print(name_lists)

*there is only one dictionary here*. That is the problem. You keep appending the *exact same dict multiple times* to the list, `name_lists.append(d)` — juanpa.arrivillaga, Oct 01 '21 at 09:09
@deceze (offtopic) how do you reference several duplicates when closing? Is this because someone already flagged the question? — mozway, Oct 01 '21 at 09:10
@mozway *How?* With the *edit* button next to the duplicates. Not sure at what rep level you can use that. — *Why?* Because I'm closing as the first best duplicate I find, and sometimes find better ones afterwards, or multiple dupes may be necessary to answer a question in full. — deceze, Oct 01 '21 at 09:13
``` name_lists=[] d = {} flag = "" while(flag != "N"): d["name"] = input("Enter a name: ") d["surname"] = input("Enter a surname: ") d["patronmic"] = input("Enter a patronmic: ") d["id_number"] = input("Enter a worker's id number: ") name_lists.append(d) d = {} flag = input("Continue inputting data Y/N: ") print(name_lists) ``` Added a new statement to reinitialise d to an empty dict. — codefire, Oct 01 '21 at 09:14
@deceze I guess I don't have access to this function yet, but good to know that it exists! Thanks for the response. — mozway, Oct 01 '21 at 09:16

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 01 '21 at 09:07

You need to move your d instantiation inside the loop, or you will overwrite the data at each step:

name_lists=[]
flag = ""
while(flag != "N"):
    d = {}
    d["name"] = input("Enter a name: ")
    d["surname"] = input("Enter a surname: ")
    d["patronmic"] = input("Enter a patronmic: ")
    d["id_number"] = input("Enter a worker's id number: ")
    name_lists.append(d)
    flag = input("Continue inputting data Y/N: ")
print(name_lists)

example output:

[{'name': 'a', ...}, {'name': 'b', ...}]

How to input a list of dictionaries from the user in python?

1 Answers1