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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Dictionaries String Formatting with Dictionaries

Matte Matt
Matte Matt
2,354 Points

I dont know what to do

Help

string_factory.py
def favorite_food(*dict):
    return "Hi, I'm {name} and I love to eat {food}!".format(name, food)

2 Answers

Aaron Loften
Aaron Loften
12,464 Points

This took me FOREVER to figure out...

Okay, so....you unpack a dictionary with "**". A set of value key/pairs was passed to your function. Those values were grouped together by a value named "dict". To use them, you have to unpack it.

When you unpack it, it is an equivilant of physically typing out the values like "name=cat, food=pie" but saves you time because you just have to say "**stuff"

Does that make sense? I hope so. I feel like it could both make life simpler and extremely complicated....

The following code should pass. I didnt expect mine to pass so I just grabbed yours and modified it.

def favorite_food(dict):
    return "Hi, I'm {name} and I love to eat {food}!".format(**dict)

IF a moderator comes by, the video should probably mention unpacking a value inside of a function. It only mentions passing through an already unpacked value. That was very very confusing. I literally guessed to get it right after watching the video three times.

joshthorn
joshthorn
30,751 Points

The question asks to unpack a dictionary and pass it to .format.

def favorite_food(*dict):
    return "Hi, I'm {name} and I love to eat {food}!".format(**dict)
Matte Matt
Matte Matt
2,354 Points

That doesnt work.