How to create an empty dictionary in Python?

A dictionary is a fundamental data structure in Python that stores data as key-value pairs. Dictionaries are also known as associative arrays and are represented by curly braces {}. Unlike lists that use numeric indexes, dictionaries use unique keys to access their values.

Keys must be immutable objects like strings, numbers, or tuples, while values can be of any data type. Python provides two simple methods to create an empty dictionary.

Using Curly Braces {}

The most common way to create an empty dictionary is using empty curly braces.

Syntax

variable_name = {}

Where:

• variable_name is the name of the dictionary

• {} creates an empty dictionary

Example

Here's how to create an empty dictionary using curly braces ?

dict1 = {}
print("The dictionary created using curly braces:", dict1)
print("Type:", type(dict1))

The dictionary created using curly braces: {}
Type: <class 'dict'>

Adding Values to Empty Dictionary

You can add key-value pairs to an empty dictionary using square bracket notation ?

dict1 = {}
print("Empty dictionary:", dict1)

dict1['name'] = 'Alice'
dict1['age'] = 25
print("After adding values:", dict1)

Empty dictionary: {}
After adding values: {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 25}

Using the dict() Function

The dict() constructor creates an empty dictionary when called without arguments.

Syntax

variable_name = dict()

Where:

• variable_name is the name of the dictionary

• dict() is the constructor function

Example

Creating an empty dictionary using the dict() function ?

dict1 = dict()
print("The dictionary created is:", dict1)
print("Type:", type(dict1))

The dictionary created is: {}
Type: <class 'dict'>

Adding Multiple Values

You can add different types of values to your empty dictionary ?

dict1 = dict()
print("Empty dictionary:", dict1)

dict1['colors'] = ["Blue", "Green", "Red"]
dict1['numbers'] = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
dict1['active'] = True

print("After adding values:", dict1)

Empty dictionary: {}
After adding values: {'colors': ['Blue', 'Green', 'Red'], 'numbers': [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], 'active': True}

Comparison

Conclusion

Both {} and dict() create empty dictionaries effectively. Use {} for its simplicity and slight performance advantage, or dict() when you want more explicit code.