Convert nested Python dict to object?

Question

I\'m searching for an elegant way to get data using attribute access on a dict with some nested dicts and lists (i.e. javascript-style object syntax).

For example:

Answer 1

If you want to access dict keys as an object (or as a dict for difficult keys), do it recursively, and also be able to update the original dict, you could do:

class Dictate(object):
    """Object view of a dict, updating the passed in dict when values are set
    or deleted. "Dictate" the contents of a dict...: """

    def __init__(self, d):
        # since __setattr__ is overridden, self.__dict = d doesn't work
        object.__setattr__(self, '_Dictate__dict', d)

    # Dictionary-like access / updates
    def __getitem__(self, name):
        value = self.__dict[name]
        if isinstance(value, dict):  # recursively view sub-dicts as objects
            value = Dictate(value)
        return value

    def __setitem__(self, name, value):
        self.__dict[name] = value
    def __delitem__(self, name):
        del self.__dict[name]

    # Object-like access / updates
    def __getattr__(self, name):
        return self[name]

    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
        self[name] = value
    def __delattr__(self, name):
        del self[name]

    def __repr__(self):
        return "%s(%r)" % (type(self).__name__, self.__dict)
    def __str__(self):
        return str(self.__dict)

Example usage:

d = {'a': 'b', 1: 2}
dd = Dictate(d)
assert dd.a == 'b'  # Access like an object
assert dd[1] == 2  # Access like a dict
# Updates affect d
dd.c = 'd'
assert d['c'] == 'd'
del dd.a
del dd[1]
# Inner dicts are mapped
dd.e = {}
dd.e.f = 'g'
assert dd['e'].f == 'g'
assert d == {'c': 'd', 'e': {'f': 'g'}}