How to Save Selected Keys from a Python Dictionary to CSV File

Learn how to efficiently save selected keys from a Python dictionary to a CSV file, using Pandas for data manipulation.
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How to Save Selected Keys from a Python Dictionary to CSV File

Working with dictionaries in Python is quite common, but sometimes you may find yourself needing to export structured data to a format like CSV. If you've ever queried a dictionary and wanted to save its specific keys into a CSV file, you're not alone! This blog will walk you through the process using Pandas, making it easy and efficient.

The Problem

You might have a dictionary output like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

From this dictionary, you want to extract specific data and save it in a CSV format that resembles the following:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this case, you need to select the keys query, category, and confidence and ignore any other keys, such as by. Let’s explore how to accomplish this using Pandas.

The Solution

Step-by-Step Guide

Create a List of Nested Dictionaries:

To prepare your data for conversion, create a list of dictionaries that includes the relevant keys.

Here’s how you can do that:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Convert to DataFrame:

Now that you have the data structured, you can pass it to a Pandas DataFrame:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Drop Unwanted Columns:

Since you want to exclude the by column, you’ll remove it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Rename the Column:

Rename the name column to category for better understanding:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Output the DataFrame:

After all transformations, print the DataFrame to check your work:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Your output should now look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Saving to CSV

With your DataFrame correctly formatted, saving it to a CSV file is straightforward:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Alternative Approach

If you have direct access to the original level4 structure and want to generate a list of dictionaries directly from it, you can simplify your code as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This approach is compact and just as effective.

Conclusion

Exporting selected keys from a dictionary to a CSV file can seem daunting, but with the right tools and approaches, it becomes a seamless task. Utilizing Pandas not only makes data handling easier but also enhances productivity. Whether you choose to format the data from a nested dictionary or directly from the original structure, the methods provided will enable you to achieve your goal effectively.

Now you have the ability to take your Python dictionaries and convert them into easily manageable CSV files. Happy coding!