4 Ways to Extract Dictionary Keys as a List

Here are 4 ways to extract dictionary keys as a list in Python:

(1) Using a list() function:

my_list = list(my_dict)

(2) Using dict.keys():

my_list = list(my_dict.keys())

(3) Using List Comprehension:

my_list = [i for i in my_dict]

(4) Using For Loop:

my_list = []

for i in my_dict:
    my_list.append(i)

Examples of extracting dictionary keys as a list

Example 1: Using a list() function

Let’s create a simple dictionary:

my_dict = {'Microwave': 300, 'Oven': 750, 'Dishwasher': 600, 'Refrigerator': 1200, 'Toaster': 150}

print(my_dict)
print(type(my_dict))

Result:

{'Microwave': 300, 'Oven': 750, 'Dishwasher': 600, 'Refrigerator': 1200, 'Toaster': 150}
<class 'dict'>

Note that print(type(my_dict)) was added at the bottom of the code to demonstrate that we got a dictionary.

Now let’s extract the dictionary keys as a list using my_list = list(my_dict):

my_dict = {'Microwave': 300, 'Oven': 750, 'Dishwasher': 600, 'Refrigerator': 1200, 'Toaster': 150}

my_list = list(my_dict)

print(my_list)
print(type(my_list))

Result:

['Microwave', 'Oven', 'Dishwasher', 'Refrigerator', 'Toaster']
<class 'list'>

Example 2: Using dict.keys():

Alternatively, you may use my_list = list(my_dict.keys()) as follows:

my_dict = {'Microwave': 300, 'Oven': 750, 'Dishwasher': 600, 'Refrigerator': 1200, 'Toaster': 150}

my_list = list(my_dict.keys())

print(my_list)
print(type(my_list))

Result:

['Microwave', 'Oven', 'Dishwasher', 'Refrigerator', 'Toaster']
<class 'list'>

Example 3: Using List Comprehension

Using a List Comprehension:

my_dict = {'Microwave': 300, 'Oven': 750, 'Dishwasher': 600, 'Refrigerator': 1200, 'Toaster': 150}

my_list = [i for i in my_dict]
    
print(my_list)
print(type(my_list))

Result:

['Microwave', 'Oven', 'Dishwasher', 'Refrigerator', 'Toaster']
<class 'list'>

Example 4: Using For Loop

Using a For Loop:

my_dict = {'Microwave': 300, 'Oven': 750, 'Dishwasher': 600, 'Refrigerator': 1200, 'Toaster': 150}

my_list = []

for i in my_dict:
    my_list.append(i)

print(my_list)
print(type(my_list))

Result:

['Microwave', 'Oven', 'Dishwasher', 'Refrigerator', 'Toaster']
<class 'list'>