A python class that acts like dict

Question

I want to write a custom class that behaves like dict - so, I am inheriting from dict.

My question, though, is: Do I need to create a priva

Answer 1

I really don't see the right answer to this anywhere

class MyClass(dict):
    
    def __init__(self, a_property):
        self[a_property] = a_property

All you are really having to do is define your own __init__ - that really is all that there is too it.

Another example (little more complex):

class MyClass(dict):

    def __init__(self, planet):
        self[planet] = planet
        info = self.do_something_that_returns_a_dict()
        if info:
            for k, v in info.items():
                self[k] = v

    def do_something_that_returns_a_dict(self):
        return {"mercury": "venus", "mars": "jupiter"}

This last example is handy when you want to embed some kind of logic.

Anyway... in short class GiveYourClassAName(dict) is enough to make your class act like a dict. Any dict operation you do on self will be just like a regular dict.