When to use lists vs dictionaries in Python

One of the most fundamental and simple skills to learn as a new coder is how to create a list in Python. But when you also have the option to create dictionaries – which are potentially more powerful – the question becomes why you should need this skill!

In this post, we’ll break down how to create a list in Python and when you should choose one over a dictionary.

How to create a list in Python and what they are for

In programming, a list is a variable that contains lots of other variables. These are added to the list in a sequential order that can then be referenced at any time. In Python, a list can contain multiple data types: strings, integers, booleans, and more.

Thus, the types of lists you build in Python will often be similar to the lists you create in real life: lists of names, lists of phone numbers, lists of places… etc.

Learning how to create a list in Python is extremely easy. Simply define a variable using square brackets, then separate the elements in the list by commas:

We can then print the items in this list to the screen:

Or, we can print individual items from that list:

Or a range:

(Remember, the second digit is not inclusive, and the first position on any list is indexed as “0.”)

At any point, we can now add items to the list, or insert them at specific locations in the list. For instance:

This will add the item to the end of the list.

If you want to know how to create a list in Python that’s empty, that’s also extremely straightforward:

It’s now possible to use append and insert to populate the list programmatically. If we want to remove items, we use:

And that is how to create a list in Python!

If you want to know more about this, check out the following post:

• How to use lists in Python

How to create a dictionary in Python

A dictionary is similar to a list, but with a key difference. That’s a pun, by the way.

The difference is that instead of being a consecutive list that uses an index, a dictionary is more like a database that stores values with a “key” to use as the reference.

We create dictionaries in a similar manner to lists, but using curly brackets and including bothkey and the value itself. For example, we might store a series of phone numbers like this:

We could then pull out a specific person’s number by using their name:

For more on using dictionaries, check out our detailed post:

• How to use dictionaries in Python

When to use lists vs dictionaries

So, now you know how to create a list in Python and how to create a dictionary! The question that remains is: when do you use each? What is the benefit of one over the other?

Let’s start by looking at the obvious limitation of using lists. When we use a list in Python, we create a challenge for ourselves because the list index will change each time we add new elements. Thus it is very difficult to maintain any kind of order.

For instance, if we wanted to store phone numbers as a list but keep track of whose number each one was, the only way we could do that would be either to store two values consecutively (the name followed by the number) or to create a second list where the positions of each person were kept the same as their respective numbers.

Read also: How to round in Python

While both these options could work, they would be convoluted at best and it would be easy to get them mixed up.

What’s more, is that dictionaries are also much faster for looking up data as compared with lists!

But is a dictionary always superior? Why learn how to create a list in Python at all?

The obvious answer here, is that a list maintains order. This is important if ever we want to give a list an order. And there are many situations where this is useful: such as when assigning relative importance, for example when creating a to-do list, a sequence of levels etc.

Lists are also slightly simpler to use when you’re in a hurry if you need to store just a few items. Likewise, although dictionaries are faster, they also use up more memory as compared with a list.

As you can see then, choosing the right format in Python is a matter of knowing your objectives. Now you know how to create a list in Python, and you know when you should!

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