Optimizing Python Dictionary Lookup Speeds by Shortening Key Size?

Question

I\'m not clear on what goes on behind the scenes of a dictionary lookup. Does key size factor into the speed of lookup for that key?

Current dictionary keys are bet

Answer 1

Python dictionaries are implemented as hash-maps in the background. The key length might have some impact on the performance if, for example, the hash-functions complexity depends on the key-length. But in general the performance impacts will be definitely negligable.

So I'd say there is little to no benefit for the added complexity.