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

My dictionary is of this format:

addr_bk = {
    'person': [
        {'name': 'Andrew', 'id': 123, 'email': 'andrew@mailserver.com',
         'phone': [{'type': 2, 'number': '633311122'},
                   {'type': 0, 'number': '97788665'}]
        },
        {'name': 'Tom', 'id': 456,
         'phone': [{'type': 0, 'number': '91122334'}]}, 
        {'name': 'Jack', 'id': 7788, 'email': 'jack@gmail.com'}
    ]
}

As can be seen, I have nested dictionaries and list of dicts. This is because the addr_bk was decoded from protocol buffer data that converted to a python dict using lwpb.codec. There are optional field (e.g. email => where key may be unavailable) and repeated field (e.g. phone => converted to list of dict).

I tried all the above proposed solutions. Some doesn't handle the nested dictionaries well. Others cannot print the object details easily.

Only the solution, dict2obj(dict) by Dawie Strauss, works best.

I have enhanced it a little to handle when the key cannot be found:

# Work the best, with nested dictionaries & lists! :)
# Able to print out all items.
class dict2obj_new(dict):
    def __init__(self, dict_):
        super(dict2obj_new, self).__init__(dict_)
        for key in self:
            item = self[key]
            if isinstance(item, list):
                for idx, it in enumerate(item):
                    if isinstance(it, dict):
                        item[idx] = dict2obj_new(it)
            elif isinstance(item, dict):
                self[key] = dict2obj_new(item)

    def __getattr__(self, key):
        # Enhanced to handle key not found.
        if self.has_key(key):
            return self[key]
        else:
            return None

Then, I tested it with:

# Testing...
ab = dict2obj_new(addr_bk)

for person in ab.person:
  print "Person ID:", person.id
  print "  Name:", person.name
  # Check if optional field is available before printing.
  if person.email:
    print "  E-mail address:", person.email

  # Check if optional field is available before printing.
  if person.phone:
    for phone_number in person.phone:
      if phone_number.type == codec.enums.PhoneType.MOBILE:
        print "  Mobile phone #:",
      elif phone_number.type == codec.enums.PhoneType.HOME:
        print "  Home phone #:",
      else:
        print "  Work phone #:",
      print phone_number.number