Insert values line by line in a JSON object with Python

Question

I'm trying to write new fields and their values to an existing JSON object using Python, line by line, but it keeps creating another key instead. Here is a sample code :

# my object
data_set = {'fruits':[]}

fruit_state = 'eatable'

# the values i want to insert line by line into the same JSON object
data_set['fruits'].append({'apple' : fruit_state})
data_set['fruits'].append({'strawberry' : fruit_state})
data_set['fruits'].append({'lemon' : fruit_state})

json_dump = json.dumps(data_set, indent=4)
print(json_dump)

quit()

Which gives me :

{
    "fruits": [
        {
            "apple": "eatable"
        },
        {
            "strawberry": "eatable"
        },
        {
            "lemon": "eatable"
        }
    ]
}

But I'm trying to get something so the result would be :

{
    "fruits": [
        {
            "apple": "eatable",
            "strawberry": "eatable",
            "lemon": "eatable"
        }
    ]
}

I could put every value in an array and pass it, but I really want to insert the values line by line. Would you have an idea ? Thanks in advance.

Do you actually want fruits to be a list containing a single dictionary? It would make more sense for it to just be a dictionary directly, i.e. {"fruits": {"apple": ..etc..} } — tzaman
– tzaman, Commented Jul 19, 2021 at 11:21

tzaman · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-19 11:24:34Z

1

It seems you'd be better served with fruits holding the sub-object directly, instead of containing a list. Then you can just assign values directly:

data_set = {'fruits': {}}
data_set['fruits']['apple'] = fruit_state
data_set['fruits']['strawberry'] = fruit_state
data_set['fruits']['lemon'] = fruit_state

answered Jul 19, 2021 at 11:24

tzaman

48k11 gold badges93 silver badges118 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Axe319 Over a year ago

This was my immediate thought. Adding redundant intermediate lists into JSON is a pet peeve of mine. All it does is force the consumer to add a [0] when parsing.

billou95 Over a year ago

That method could be helpful too. Thanks for the tip.

U13-Forward · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-19 11:18:37Z

0

Try using dict.update:

data_set['fruits'].append({})
data_set['fruits'][0].update({'apple' : fruit_state})
data_set['fruits'][0].update({'strawberry' : fruit_state})
data_set['fruits'][0].update({'lemon' : fruit_state})

answered Jul 19, 2021 at 11:18

U13-Forward

71.8k15 gold badges100 silver badges125 bronze badges

1 Comment

billou95 Over a year ago

That's what I was looking for! I see I needed to create the list first then update it with the values using its position. Thanks a lot.

petrch · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-19 11:22:26Z

0

import json
data_set = {'fruits':[{}]} 
data_set['fruits'][0]['apple'] = fruit_state
data_set['fruits'][0].update({'strawberry' : fruit_state})

json_dump = json.dumps(data_set, indent=4)
print(json_dump)

{
    "fruits": {
        "apple": "eatable",
        "strawberry": "eatable"
    }
}

answered Jul 19, 2021 at 11:22

petrch

1,97815 silver badges21 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Insert values line by line in a JSON object with Python

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related