CODEWITHSUNDEEP
python
Uttam
Uttam

Reputation: 7

Efficient data structure used to store and retrieve information

Given following information:

item : Apple
price : 120

item : Orange
price : 90

item : Banana
price : 60

What data structure should be used to store the above data in python. How to get the price of banana using that data structure?

My Approach: I thought it can be stored using list of dictionary.

List = [{'item':'Apple','price':120},{'item':'Orange','price':90},{'item':'Banana','price':60}]

#Retrieving price of banana

for i in range(len(List)):
    if List[i]['item']=='Banana':
        price = List[i]['price']
        print(price)

What is wrong with the above approach? Or is there any better approach for the above problem?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 160

Answers (1)

Martijn Pieters
Martijn Pieters

Reputation: 1121206

You don't need a list here; you can store all your items in one dictionary, mapping item name to price:

item_prices = {
    'Apple': 120,
    'Orange': 90,
    'Banana': 60,
}

print(item_prices['Banana'])

Now you don't need a loop anymore. And testing if an item is present is as easy as if 'Banana' in item_prices:, no full scan required.

Upvotes: 5

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