How to Sum Values in JSON Objects with Python

Learn how to efficiently merge two JSON objects in Python by summing values for matching keys. Follow our clear, step-by-step guide!
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Merging JSON Objects in Python: A Comprehensive Guide

When working with JSON data in Python, there may come a time when you need to merge two JSON objects. A common requirement is to sum specific values when their associated keys match. For instance, if you have two datasets of items with unique identifiers, you might want to combine the quantities for any items that appear in both datasets. In this post, we’ll show you how to easily achieve this with Python.

Understanding the Problem

Consider this scenario: you have two JSON objects representing art supplies, each containing fields such as text, id, and obj_count. Your goal is to merge these two objects such that if the id matches in both objects, the obj_count from each is summed together.

Example JSON Objects

Here are the two JSON objects you'll be working with:

Object 1:

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

Object 2:

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

Desired Output

The expected output after merging these two JSON objects should look like this:

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

Step-by-Step Solution

To merge the JSON objects and sum the values correctly, follow these steps:

1. Prepare Your Data

First, ensure you have your JSON data ready. For this guide, you can store them in two separate variables as lists of dictionaries.

2. Create a Dictionary for Merging

Using a dict in Python is a great way to manage the merging. This allows you to keep track of whether you've already encountered an id.

3. Iterate Over Each JSON Object

Go through each item in both JSON objects and implement the logic to check if the id is already in your result dictionary:

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

4. Convert the Results Back to a List

After processing both JSON objects, convert your result dictionary back into a list format, as follows:

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

Final Result

After executing the above code, you'll have the desired merged JSON list that sums the obj_count for any duplicate ids.

Conclusion

Merging JSON objects and summing values based on matching keys in Python can be easily achieved with a simple strategy using dictionaries. By following the steps outlined above, you can manipulate your JSON data effectively and derive meaningful insights from it.

If you keep facing challenges while coding with JSON data, remember to utilize Python’s flexible data structures such as lists and dictionaries. Happy coding!