Python Program to Iterate Over Dictionaries Using for Loop

In this example, you will learn to iterate over dictionaries using for loop.

To understand this example, you should have the knowledge of the following Python programming topics:

• Python for Loop
• Python Dictionary

1. Example 1: Access both key and value using items()

dt = {'a': 'juice', 'b': 'grill', 'c': 'corn'}

for key, value in dt.items():
    print(key, value)

Output

a juice
b grill
c corn

• Using a for loop, pass two loop variables key and value for iterable dt.items(). items() returns the key:value pairs.
• Print key and value.

2. Example 2: Access both key and value without using items()

dt = {'a': 'juice', 'b': 'grill', 'c': 'corn'}

for key in dt:
    print(key, dt[key])

Output

a juice
b grill
c corn

• Iterate through the dictionary using a for loop.
• Print the loop variable key and value at key (i.e. dt[key]).

However, the more pythonic way is example 1.

3. Example 3: Access both key and value using iteritems()

dt = {'a': 'juice', 'b': 'grill', 'c': 'corn'}

for key, value in dt.iteritems():
    print(key, value)

Output

a juice
b grill
c corn

It works for python 2 versions.

As in Example 1, we can use iteritems() for python 2 versions.

4. Example 4: Return keys or values explicitly

dt = {'a': 'juice', 'b': 'grill', 'c': 'corn'}

for key in dt.keys():
    print(key)

for value in dt.values():
    print(value)

Output

a
b
c
juice
grill
corn

You can use keys() and values() to explicitly return keys and values of the dictionary respectively.