How to zip a Python Dictionary and List together?

In this article, we will show you how to zip a Python dictionary and list together. Below are the various methods to accomplish this task ?

• Using zip() function

• Using append() function and items() function

• Using append() function and in operator

Using zip() Function

The zip() function combines two iterables by pairing their elements. When zipping a dictionary with a list, we use items() to get key-value pairs from the dictionary ?

# input dictionary
input_dict = {'Hello': 1, 'tutorialspoint': 2, 'python': 3, 'codes': 3}

# input list
input_list = [10, 20, 30, 40]

# combining input dictionary and list together
zipped_result = zip(input_dict.items(), input_list)

print("Combining input dictionary and list together:")
# printing the resultant zip result by converting the
# above zip object into a list
print(list(zipped_result))

Combining input dictionary and list together:
[(('Hello', 1), 10), (('tutorialspoint', 2), 20), (('python', 3), 30), (('codes', 3), 40)]

Accessing Zip Object Elements

You can iterate through the zip object to access individual elements ?

# input dictionary
input_dict = {'Hello': 1, 'tutorialspoint': 2, 'python': 3, 'codes': 3}

# input list
input_list = [10, 20, 30, 40]

# combining input dictionary and list together
zipped_object = zip(input_dict.items(), input_list)
print("Zipping input dictionary and list:")

# traversing through key, value pair of dictionary and list items in
# the above zip object
for (k, v), list_item in zipped_object:
   # printing the corresponding key of a dictionary
   print(f"Key: {k}")
   
   # printing the corresponding value of a dictionary
   print(f"Value: {v}")
   
   # printing corresponding list item of the input list
   print(f"List item: {list_item}")
   print("---")

Zipping input dictionary and list:
Key: Hello
Value: 1
List item: 10
---
Key: tutorialspoint
Value: 2
List item: 20
---
Key: python
Value: 3
List item: 30
---
Key: codes
Value: 3
List item: 40
---

Using append() and items() Functions

This approach manually creates the zipped structure using a loop and append() ?

# input dictionary
input_dict = {'Hello': 1, 'tutorialspoint': 2, 'python': 3, 'codes': 3}

# input list
input_list = [10, 20, 30, 40]

# empty list for storing result
result = []

# initializing a variable of list index with 0
i = 0

# traversing through key, value pair of input dictionary
for key, value in input_dict.items():
   # creating a tuple of key-value pairs of a dictionary
   dict_key_value_tuple = (key, value)
   
   # appending corresponding key, value pair of input dictionary, 
   # and input list element to the above result list
   result.append((dict_key_value_tuple, input_list[i]))
   
   # incrementing the value of the list index by 1
   i += 1

# printing the resultant zip of input dictionary and list
print("Zipping input dictionary and list:")
print(result)

Zipping input dictionary and list:
[(('Hello', 1), 10), (('tutorialspoint', 2), 20), (('python', 3), 30), (('codes', 3), 40)]

Using append() Function and in Operator

This method iterates through dictionary keys using the in operator instead of items() ?

# input dictionary
input_dict = {'Hello': 1, 'tutorialspoint': 2, 'python': 3, 'codes': 3}

# input list
input_list = [10, 20, 30, 40]

# empty list for storing result
result = []

# initializing a variable of list index with 0
i = 0

# traversing through key of input dictionary
for key in input_dict:
   # creating a tuple of key-value pair of a dictionary
   # here input_dict[key] represents value of a dictionary
   dict_key_value_tuple = (key, input_dict[key])
   
   # appending corresponding key, value pair of input dictionary,
   # input list element as tuple to the above result list
   result.append((dict_key_value_tuple, input_list[i]))
   
   # incrementing the value of the list index by 1
   i += 1

# printing the resultant zip of input dictionary and list
print("Zipping input dictionary and list:")
print(result)

Zipping input dictionary and list:
[(('Hello', 1), 10), (('tutorialspoint', 2), 20), (('python', 3), 30), (('codes', 3), 40)]

Comparison

Conclusion

The zip() function is the most efficient and pythonic way to combine dictionaries and lists. Use manual approaches with append() only when you need custom processing during the zipping operation.