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How to Get Random Keys and Values from a Python Dictionary

This guide explains how to retrieve random keys, values, or key-value pairs (items) from a Python dictionary. We'll cover using the random module's choice(), sample(), and choices() functions, and explain the key differences between them.

Getting a Single Random Key-Value Pair​

To get a single, random key-value pair, convert the dictionary's items to a list and use random.choice():

import random

my_dict = {
    'name': 'Tom Nolan',
    'fruit': 'apple',
    'number': 5,
    'website': 'tutorialreference.com',
    'topic': 'Python'
}

key, value = random.choice(list(my_dict.items()))  # Convert to list and choose
print(key, value)  # Output: (e.g.,) topic Python
  • The my_dict.items() method will return a view object with all key-value pairs.
  • list(my_dict.items()): Converts the dictionary's items (key-value pairs, which are tuples) into a list of tuples. This is necessary because random.choice() works on sequences, not dictionary views.
  • random.choice(...): Selects a random tuple (key-value pair) from the list.
  • key, value = ...: Unpacks the selected tuple into separate key and value variables.

Getting a Single Random Key​

To get just a random key:

import random

my_dict = {
    'name': 'Tom Nolan',
    'fruit': 'apple',
    'number': 5,
    'website': 'tutorialreference.com',
    'topic': 'Python'
}

key = random.choice(list(my_dict))  # Convert keys to a list and choose
print(key)  # Output: (e.g.,) topic
  • list(my_dict): Converts the dictionary to a list of its keys. This is the most concise way to get a list of keys.
  • random.choice(...): Selects a random key from the list.

Getting a Single Random Value​

To get a random value:

import random
my_dict = {
   'name': 'Tom Nolan',
   'fruit': 'apple',
   'number': 5,
   'website': 'tutorialreference.com',
   'topic': 'Python'
}
value = random.choice(list(my_dict.values()))  # Convert values to a list
print(value)  # Output: (e.g.,) tutorialreference.com
  • list(my_dict.values()): Creates a list of the dictionary's values.
  • random.choice(...): Selects a random value from the list.

Getting Multiple Random Keys, Values, or Items​

Using random.sample() (Unique Elements - Without Replacement)​

random.sample() selects a specified number of unique items from a sequence. This is like drawing cards from a deck without putting them back.

import random

my_dict = {
    'id': 1,
    'name': 'tomnolan',
    'age': 30,
    'country': 'Italy',
    'city': 'Rome',
}

random_keys = random.sample(list(my_dict), 2)  # Get 2 random keys
print(random_keys)    # Output: (e.g.,) ['age', 'name']

random_values = random.sample(list(my_dict.values()), 2)  # 2 random values
print(random_values)  # Output: (e.g.,) [30, 'tomnolan']

random_items = random.sample(list(my_dict.items()), 2)  # 2 random (key, value) pairs
print(random_items)   # Output: (e.g.,) [('country', 'Italy'), ('id', 1)]
  • random.sample(population, k): Returns a list of k unique elements chosen from population.
  • Important: random.sample() can not return more unique elements than are present in the input. If you ask for more elements than exist, you'll get a ValueError.

Using random.choices() (Allows Duplicates - With Replacement)​

random.choices() selects elements with replacement, meaning the same item can be chosen multiple times:

import random

my_dict = {
    'id': 1,
    'name': 'tomnolan',
    'age': 30,
    'country': 'Italy',
    'city': 'Rome',
}

#The k argument specifies how many values to pick.
random_keys = random.choices(list(my_dict), k=2)
print(random_keys)    # Output: (e.g.,) ['name', 'country'] (could have duplicates)

random_values = random.choices(list(my_dict.values()), k=2)
print(random_values)  # Output: (e.g.,) ['Rome', 30] (could have duplicates)

random_items = random.choices(list(my_dict.items()), k=2)
print(random_items)   # Output: (e.g.,) [('id', 1), ('city', 'Rome')] (could have duplicates)
  • random.choices(population, k=n): Returns a list of n elements chosen from population, with replacement.

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