Python Dict: Get First Key 3 Methods

This tutorial will guide you through various methods to get the first key from a dictionary in Python.

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We can get the first key in Python Dict using below three methods:

1. Using the next() function and iter()
2. Using the popitem() method (for Python 3.7+)
3. Converting the dictionary to a list

1. Using the next() function and iter()

The next() function allows you to retrieve the next item from an iterator, and the iter() function is used to create an iterator from an object.

Example:

my_dict = {'apple': 5, 'banana': 3, 'orange': 8}

# Get the first key
first_key = next(iter(my_dict))
print("First key:", first_key)

Output:

First key: apple

2. Using the popitem() method (Python 3.7+)

In Python 3.7 and later, dictionaries maintain the order of elements. The popitem() method returns a tuple containing the key and value of the last item in the dictionary. However, you can use the last=False parameter to get the first item instead.

Example:

my_dict = {'apple': 5, 'banana': 3, 'orange': 8}

# Get the first key
first_key = my_dict.popitem(last=False)[0]
print("First key:", first_key)

Output:

First key: apple

Note: Using popitem() will remove the item from the dictionary. If you want to keep the original dictionary intact, use one of the other methods.

3. Converting the dictionary to a list

You can convert a dictionary to a list of its keys and then access the first element of the list.

Example:

my_dict = {'apple': 5, 'banana': 3, 'orange': 8}

# Get the first key
first_key = list(my_dict.keys())[0]
print("First key:", first_key)

Output:

First key: apple

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we discussed three different methods to get the first key of a dictionary in Python. Depending on your requirements and the Python version you are using, you can choose the most suitable method for your use case.