godot-docs/classes/class_dictionary.rst

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.. DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!!!
.. Generated automatically from Godot engine sources.
.. Generator: https://github.com/godotengine/godot/tree/4.2/doc/tools/make_rst.py.
.. XML source: https://github.com/godotengine/godot/tree/4.2/doc/classes/Dictionary.xml.

.. _class_Dictionary:

Dictionary
==========

A built-in data structure that holds key-value pairs.

.. rst-class:: classref-introduction-group

Description
-----------

Dictionaries are associative containers that contain values referenced by unique keys. Dictionaries will preserve the insertion order when adding new entries. In other programming languages, this data structure is often referred to as a hash map or an associative array.

You can define a dictionary by placing a comma-separated list of ``key: value`` pairs inside curly braces ``{}``.

Creating a dictionary:


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var my_dict = {} # Creates an empty dictionary.
    
    var dict_variable_key = "Another key name"
    var dict_variable_value = "value2"
    var another_dict = {
        "Some key name": "value1",
        dict_variable_key: dict_variable_value,
    }
    
    var points_dict = {"White": 50, "Yellow": 75, "Orange": 100}
    
    # Alternative Lua-style syntax.
    # Doesn't require quotes around keys, but only string constants can be used as key names.
    # Additionally, key names must start with a letter or an underscore.
    # Here, `some_key` is a string literal, not a variable!
    another_dict = {
        some_key = 42,
    }

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var myDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary(); // Creates an empty dictionary.
    var pointsDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        {"White", 50},
        {"Yellow", 75},
        {"Orange", 100}
    };



You can access a dictionary's value by referencing its corresponding key. In the above example, ``points_dict["White"]`` will return ``50``. You can also write ``points_dict.White``, which is equivalent. However, you'll have to use the bracket syntax if the key you're accessing the dictionary with isn't a fixed string (such as a number or variable).


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    @export_enum("White", "Yellow", "Orange") var my_color: String
    var points_dict = {"White": 50, "Yellow": 75, "Orange": 100}
    func _ready():
        # We can't use dot syntax here as `my_color` is a variable.
        var points = points_dict[my_color]

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    [Export(PropertyHint.Enum, "White,Yellow,Orange")]
    public string MyColor { get; set; }
    private Godot.Collections.Dictionary _pointsDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        {"White", 50},
        {"Yellow", 75},
        {"Orange", 100}
    };
    
    public override void _Ready()
    {
        int points = (int)_pointsDict[MyColor];
    }



In the above code, ``points`` will be assigned the value that is paired with the appropriate color selected in ``my_color``.

Dictionaries can contain more complex data:


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var my_dict = {
        "First Array": [1, 2, 3, 4] # Assigns an Array to a String key.
    }

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var myDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        {"First Array", new Godot.Collections.Array{1, 2, 3, 4}}
    };



To add a key to an existing dictionary, access it like an existing key and assign to it:


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var points_dict = {"White": 50, "Yellow": 75, "Orange": 100}
    points_dict["Blue"] = 150 # Add "Blue" as a key and assign 150 as its value.

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var pointsDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        {"White", 50},
        {"Yellow", 75},
        {"Orange", 100}
    };
    pointsDict["Blue"] = 150; // Add "Blue" as a key and assign 150 as its value.



Finally, dictionaries can contain different types of keys and values in the same dictionary:


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    # This is a valid dictionary.
    # To access the string "Nested value" below, use `my_dict.sub_dict.sub_key` or `my_dict["sub_dict"]["sub_key"]`.
    # Indexing styles can be mixed and matched depending on your needs.
    var my_dict = {
        "String Key": 5,
        4: [1, 2, 3],
        7: "Hello",
        "sub_dict": {"sub_key": "Nested value"},
    }

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    // This is a valid dictionary.
    // To access the string "Nested value" below, use `((Godot.Collections.Dictionary)myDict["sub_dict"])["sub_key"]`.
    var myDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary {
        {"String Key", 5},
        {4, new Godot.Collections.Array{1,2,3}},
        {7, "Hello"},
        {"sub_dict", new Godot.Collections.Dictionary{{"sub_key", "Nested value"}}}
    };



The keys of a dictionary can be iterated with the ``for`` keyword:


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var groceries = {"Orange": 20, "Apple": 2, "Banana": 4}
    for fruit in groceries:
        var amount = groceries[fruit]

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var groceries = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary{{"Orange", 20}, {"Apple", 2}, {"Banana", 4}};
    foreach (var (fruit, amount) in groceries)
    {
        // `fruit` is the key, `amount` is the value.
    }



\ **Note:** Dictionaries are always passed by reference. To get a copy of a dictionary which can be modified independently of the original dictionary, use :ref:`duplicate<class_Dictionary_method_duplicate>`.

\ **Note:** Erasing elements while iterating over dictionaries is **not** supported and will result in unpredictable behavior.

.. note::

	There are notable differences when using this API with C#. See :ref:`doc_c_sharp_differences` for more information.

.. rst-class:: classref-introduction-group

Tutorials
---------

- `GDScript basics: Dictionary <../tutorials/scripting/gdscript/gdscript_basics.html#dictionary>`__

- `3D Voxel Demo <https://godotengine.org/asset-library/asset/676>`__

- `OS Test Demo <https://godotengine.org/asset-library/asset/677>`__

.. rst-class:: classref-reftable-group

Constructors
------------

.. table::
   :widths: auto

   +-------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` | :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary_constructor_Dictionary>` **(** **)**                                          |
   +-------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` | :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary_constructor_Dictionary>` **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` from **)** |
   +-------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

.. rst-class:: classref-reftable-group

Methods
-------

.. table::
   :widths: auto

   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | void                                | :ref:`clear<class_Dictionary_method_clear>` **(** **)**                                                                                         |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` | :ref:`duplicate<class_Dictionary_method_duplicate>` **(** :ref:`bool<class_bool>` deep=false **)** |const|                                      |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`             | :ref:`erase<class_Dictionary_method_erase>` **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key **)**                                                       |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>`       | :ref:`find_key<class_Dictionary_method_find_key>` **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` value **)** |const|                                       |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>`       | :ref:`get<class_Dictionary_method_get>` **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key, :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` default=null **)** |const|       |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`             | :ref:`has<class_Dictionary_method_has>` **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key **)** |const|                                                   |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`             | :ref:`has_all<class_Dictionary_method_has_all>` **(** :ref:`Array<class_Array>` keys **)** |const|                                              |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`int<class_int>`               | :ref:`hash<class_Dictionary_method_hash>` **(** **)** |const|                                                                                   |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`             | :ref:`is_empty<class_Dictionary_method_is_empty>` **(** **)** |const|                                                                           |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`             | :ref:`is_read_only<class_Dictionary_method_is_read_only>` **(** **)** |const|                                                                   |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Array<class_Array>`           | :ref:`keys<class_Dictionary_method_keys>` **(** **)** |const|                                                                                   |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | void                                | :ref:`make_read_only<class_Dictionary_method_make_read_only>` **(** **)**                                                                       |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | void                                | :ref:`merge<class_Dictionary_method_merge>` **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` dictionary, :ref:`bool<class_bool>` overwrite=false **)** |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`int<class_int>`               | :ref:`size<class_Dictionary_method_size>` **(** **)** |const|                                                                                   |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Array<class_Array>`           | :ref:`values<class_Dictionary_method_values>` **(** **)** |const|                                                                               |
   +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

.. rst-class:: classref-reftable-group

Operators
---------

.. table::
   :widths: auto

   +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`       | :ref:`operator !=<class_Dictionary_operator_neq_Dictionary>` **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` right **)** |
   +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`bool<class_bool>`       | :ref:`operator ==<class_Dictionary_operator_eq_Dictionary>` **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` right **)**  |
   +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` | :ref:`operator []<class_Dictionary_operator_idx_Variant>` **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key **)**            |
   +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

.. rst-class:: classref-section-separator

----

.. rst-class:: classref-descriptions-group

Constructor Descriptions
------------------------

.. _class_Dictionary_constructor_Dictionary:

.. rst-class:: classref-constructor

:ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` **Dictionary** **(** **)**

Constructs an empty **Dictionary**.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. rst-class:: classref-constructor

:ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` **Dictionary** **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` from **)**

Returns the same dictionary as ``from``. If you need a copy of the dictionary, use :ref:`duplicate<class_Dictionary_method_duplicate>`.

.. rst-class:: classref-section-separator

----

.. rst-class:: classref-descriptions-group

Method Descriptions
-------------------

.. _class_Dictionary_method_clear:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

void **clear** **(** **)**

Clears the dictionary, removing all entries from it.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_duplicate:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` **duplicate** **(** :ref:`bool<class_bool>` deep=false **)** |const|

Creates and returns a new copy of the dictionary. If ``deep`` is ``true``, inner **Dictionary** and :ref:`Array<class_Array>` keys and values are also copied, recursively.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_erase:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **erase** **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key **)**

Removes the dictionary entry by key, if it exists. Returns ``true`` if the given ``key`` existed in the dictionary, otherwise ``false``.

\ **Note:** Do not erase entries while iterating over the dictionary. You can iterate over the :ref:`keys<class_Dictionary_method_keys>` array instead.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_find_key:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` **find_key** **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` value **)** |const|

Finds and returns the first key whose associated value is equal to ``value``, or ``null`` if it is not found.

\ **Note:** ``null`` is also a valid key. If inside the dictionary, :ref:`find_key<class_Dictionary_method_find_key>` may give misleading results.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_get:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` **get** **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key, :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` default=null **)** |const|

Returns the corresponding value for the given ``key`` in the dictionary. If the ``key`` does not exist, returns ``default``, or ``null`` if the parameter is omitted.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_has:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **has** **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key **)** |const|

Returns ``true`` if the dictionary contains an entry with the given ``key``.


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var my_dict = {
        "Godot" : 4,
        210 : null,
    }
    
    print(my_dict.has("Godot")) # Prints true
    print(my_dict.has(210))     # Prints true
    print(my_dict.has(4))       # Prints false

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var myDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        { "Godot", 4 },
        { 210, default },
    };
    
    GD.Print(myDict.ContainsKey("Godot")); // Prints true
    GD.Print(myDict.ContainsKey(210));     // Prints true
    GD.Print(myDict.ContainsKey(4));       // Prints false



In GDScript, this is equivalent to the ``in`` operator:

::

    if "Godot" in {"Godot": 4}:
        print("The key is here!") # Will be printed.

\ **Note:** This method returns ``true`` as long as the ``key`` exists, even if its corresponding value is ``null``.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_has_all:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **has_all** **(** :ref:`Array<class_Array>` keys **)** |const|

Returns ``true`` if the dictionary contains all keys in the given ``keys`` array.

::

    var data = {"width" : 10, "height" : 20}
    data.has_all(["height", "width"]) # Returns true

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_hash:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`int<class_int>` **hash** **(** **)** |const|

Returns a hashed 32-bit integer value representing the dictionary contents.


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var dict1 = {"A": 10, "B": 2}
    var dict2 = {"A": 10, "B": 2}
    
    print(dict1.hash() == dict2.hash()) # Prints true

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var dict1 = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary{{"A", 10}, {"B", 2}};
    var dict2 = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary{{"A", 10}, {"B", 2}};
    
    // Godot.Collections.Dictionary has no Hash() method. Use GD.Hash() instead.
    GD.Print(GD.Hash(dict1) == GD.Hash(dict2)); // Prints true



\ **Note:** Dictionaries with the same entries but in a different order will not have the same hash.

\ **Note:** Dictionaries with equal hash values are *not* guaranteed to be the same, because of hash collisions. On the contrary, dictionaries with different hash values are guaranteed to be different.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_is_empty:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **is_empty** **(** **)** |const|

Returns ``true`` if the dictionary is empty (its size is ``0``). See also :ref:`size<class_Dictionary_method_size>`.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_is_read_only:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **is_read_only** **(** **)** |const|

Returns ``true`` if the dictionary is read-only. See :ref:`make_read_only<class_Dictionary_method_make_read_only>`. Dictionaries are automatically read-only if declared with ``const`` keyword.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_keys:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`Array<class_Array>` **keys** **(** **)** |const|

Returns the list of keys in the dictionary.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_make_read_only:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

void **make_read_only** **(** **)**

Makes the dictionary read-only, i.e. disables modification of the dictionary's contents. Does not apply to nested content, e.g. content of nested dictionaries.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_merge:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

void **merge** **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` dictionary, :ref:`bool<class_bool>` overwrite=false **)**

Adds entries from ``dictionary`` to this dictionary. By default, duplicate keys are not copied over, unless ``overwrite`` is ``true``.


.. tabs::

 .. code-tab:: gdscript

    var dict = { "item": "sword", "quantity": 2 }
    var other_dict = { "quantity": 15, "color": "silver" }
    
    # Overwriting of existing keys is disabled by default.
    dict.merge(other_dict)
    print(dict)  # { "item": "sword", "quantity": 2, "color": "silver" }
    
    # With overwriting of existing keys enabled.
    dict.merge(other_dict, true)
    print(dict)  # { "item": "sword", "quantity": 15, "color": "silver" }

 .. code-tab:: csharp

    var dict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        ["item"] = "sword",
        ["quantity"] = 2,
    };
    
    var otherDict = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
    {
        ["quantity"] = 15,
        ["color"] = "silver",
    };
    
    // Overwriting of existing keys is disabled by default.
    dict.Merge(otherDict);
    GD.Print(dict); // { "item": "sword", "quantity": 2, "color": "silver" }
    
    // With overwriting of existing keys enabled.
    dict.Merge(otherDict, true);
    GD.Print(dict); // { "item": "sword", "quantity": 15, "color": "silver" }



\ **Note:** :ref:`merge<class_Dictionary_method_merge>` is *not* recursive. Nested dictionaries are considered as keys that can be overwritten or not depending on the value of ``overwrite``, but they will never be merged together.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_size:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`int<class_int>` **size** **(** **)** |const|

Returns the number of entries in the dictionary. Empty dictionaries (``{ }``) always return ``0``. See also :ref:`is_empty<class_Dictionary_method_is_empty>`.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_method_values:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`Array<class_Array>` **values** **(** **)** |const|

Returns the list of values in this dictionary.

.. rst-class:: classref-section-separator

----

.. rst-class:: classref-descriptions-group

Operator Descriptions
---------------------

.. _class_Dictionary_operator_neq_Dictionary:

.. rst-class:: classref-operator

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **operator !=** **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` right **)**

Returns ``true`` if the two dictionaries do not contain the same keys and values.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_operator_eq_Dictionary:

.. rst-class:: classref-operator

:ref:`bool<class_bool>` **operator ==** **(** :ref:`Dictionary<class_Dictionary>` right **)**

Returns ``true`` if the two dictionaries contain the same keys and values. The order of the entries does not matter.

\ **Note:** In C#, by convention, this operator compares by **reference**. If you need to compare by value, iterate over both dictionaries.

.. rst-class:: classref-item-separator

----

.. _class_Dictionary_operator_idx_Variant:

.. rst-class:: classref-operator

:ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` **operator []** **(** :ref:`Variant<class_Variant>` key **)**

Returns the corresponding value for the given ``key`` in the dictionary. If the entry does not exist, fails and returns ``null``. For safe access, use :ref:`get<class_Dictionary_method_get>` or :ref:`has<class_Dictionary_method_has>`.

.. |virtual| replace:: :abbr:`virtual (This method should typically be overridden by the user to have any effect.)`
.. |const| replace:: :abbr:`const (This method has no side effects. It doesn't modify any of the instance's member variables.)`
.. |vararg| replace:: :abbr:`vararg (This method accepts any number of arguments after the ones described here.)`
.. |constructor| replace:: :abbr:`constructor (This method is used to construct a type.)`
.. |static| replace:: :abbr:`static (This method doesn't need an instance to be called, so it can be called directly using the class name.)`
.. |operator| replace:: :abbr:`operator (This method describes a valid operator to use with this type as left-hand operand.)`
.. |bitfield| replace:: :abbr:`BitField (This value is an integer composed as a bitmask of the following flags.)`