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# python-benedict
python-benedict is a dict subclass with **keylist/keypath** support, **I/O** shortcuts (`base64`, `csv`, `json`, `pickle`, `plist`, `query-string`, `toml`, `xml`, `yaml`.) and many **utilities**... for humans, obviously.

## Features
-   100% **backward-compatible**, you can safely wrap existing dictionaries.
-   **Keylist** support using **list of keys** as key.
-   **Keypath** support using **keypath-separator** *(dot syntax by default)*.
-   Keypath **list-index** support  *(also negative)* using the standard `[n]` suffix.
-   Easy **I/O operations** with most common formats: `base64`, `csv`, `json`, `pickle`, `plist`, `query-string`, `toml`, `xml`, `yaml`.
-   Many **utility** and **parse methods** to retrieve data as needed *(check the [API](#api) section)*.
-   Well **tested**. ;)

## Index
-   [Installation](#installation)
-   [Usage](#usage)
    -   [Basics](#basics)
    -   [Keylist](#keylist)
    -   [Keypath](#keypath)
        -   [Custom keypath separator](#custom-keypath-separator)
        -   [Change keypath separator](#change-keypath-separator)
        -   [Disable keypath functionality](#disable-keypath-functionality)
        -   [List index support](#list-index-support)
    -   [API](#api)
        -   [Utility methods](#utility-methods)
        -   [I/O methods](#io-methods)
        -   [Parse methods](#parse-methods)
-   [Testing](#testing)
-   [License](#license)

## Installation
-   Run `pip install python-benedict`

## Usage

### Basics
`benedict` is a `dict` subclass, so it is possible to use it as a normal dictionary *(you can just cast an existing dict)*.

```python
from benedict import benedict

# create a new empty instance
d = benedict()

# or cast an existing dict
d = benedict(existing_dict)

# or create from data source (filepath, url or data-string) in a supported format:
# Base64, CSV, JSON, TOML, XML, YAML, query-string
d = benedict('https://localhost:8000/data.json', format='json')

# or in a Django view
params = benedict(request.GET.items())
page = params.get_int('page', 1)
```

### Keylist
Wherever a **key** is used, it is possible to use also a **list (or a tuple) of keys**.

```python
d = benedict()

# set values by keys list
d['profile', 'firstname'] = 'Fabio'
d['profile', 'lastname'] = 'Caccamo'
print(d) # -> { 'profile':{ 'firstname':'Fabio', 'lastname':'Caccamo' } }
print(d['profile']) # -> { 'firstname':'Fabio', 'lastname':'Caccamo' }

# check if keypath exists in dict
print(['profile', 'lastname'] in d) # -> True

# delete value by keys list
del d['profile', 'lastname']
print(d['profile']) # -> { 'firstname':'Fabio' }
```

### Keypath
`.` is the default keypath separator.

If you cast an existing dict and its keys contain the keypath separator a `ValueError` will be raised.

In this case you should use a [custom keypath separator](#custom-keypath-separator) or [disable keypath functionality](#disable-keypath-functionality).

```python
d = benedict()

# set values by keypath
d['profile.firstname'] = 'Fabio'
d['profile.lastname'] = 'Caccamo'
print(d) # -> { 'profile':{ 'firstname':'Fabio', 'lastname':'Caccamo' } }
print(d['profile']) # -> { 'firstname':'Fabio', 'lastname':'Caccamo' }

# check if keypath exists in dict
print('profile.lastname' in d) # -> True

# delete value by keypath
del d['profile.lastname']
```

#### Custom keypath separator
You can customize the keypath separator passing the `keypath_separator` argument in the constructor.

If you pass an existing dict to the constructor and its keys contain the keypath separator an `Exception` will be raised.

```python
d = benedict(existing_dict, keypath_separator='/')
```

#### Change keypath separator
You can change the `keypath_separator` at any time using the `getter/setter` property.

If any existing key contains the new `keypath_separator` an `Exception` will be raised.

```python
d.keypath_separator = '/'
```

#### Disable keypath functionality
You can disable the keypath functionality passing `keypath_separator=None` in the constructor.

```python
d = benedict(existing_dict, keypath_separator=None)
```

You can disable the keypath functionality using the `getter/setter` property.

```python
d.keypath_separator = None
```

#### List index support
List index are supported, keypaths can include indexes *(also negative)* using `[n]`, to perform any operation very fast:

```python
# Eg. get last location cordinates of the first result:
loc = d['results[0].locations[-1].coordinates']
lat = loc.get_decimal('latitude')
lng = loc.get_decimal('longitude')
```

### API

-   **Utility methods**

    -   [`clean`](#clean)
    -   [`clone`](#clone)
    -   [`dump`](#dump)
    -   [`filter`](#filter)
    -   [`find`](#find)
    -   [`flatten`](#flatten)
    -   [`groupby`](#groupby)
    -   [`invert`](#invert)
    -   [`items_sorted_by_keys`](#items_sorted_by_keys)
    -   [`items_sorted_by_values`](#items_sorted_by_values)
    -   [`keypaths`](#keypaths)
    -   [`match`](#match)
    -   [`merge`](#merge)
    -   [`move`](#move)
    -   [`nest`](#nest)
    -   [`remove`](#remove)
    -   [`rename`](#rename)
    -   [`search`](#search)
    -   [`standardize`](#standardize)
    -   [`subset`](#subset)
    -   [`swap`](#swap)
    -   [`traverse`](#traverse)
    -   [`unflatten`](#unflatten)
    -   [`unique`](#unique)

-   **I/O methods**

    -   [`from_base64`](#from_base64)
    -   [`from_csv`](#from_csv)
    -   [`from_json`](#from_json)
    -   [`from_pickle`](#from_pickle)
    -   [`from_plist`](#from_plist)
    -   [`from_query_string`](#from_query_string)
    -   [`from_toml`](#from_toml)
    -   [`from_xml`](#from_xml)
    -   [`from_yaml`](#from_yaml)
    -   [`to_base64`](#to_base64)
    -   [`to_csv`](#to_csv)
    -   [`to_json`](#to_json)
    -   [`to_pickle`](#to_pickle)
    -   [`to_plist`](#to_plist)
    -   [`to_query_string`](#to_query_string)
    -   [`to_toml`](#to_toml)
    -   [`to_xml`](#to_xml)
    -   [`to_yaml`](#to_yaml)

-   **Parse methods**

    -   [`get_bool`](#get_bool)
    -   [`get_bool_list`](#get_bool_list)
    -   [`get_datetime`](#get_datetime)
    -   [`get_datetime_list`](#get_datetime_list)
    -   [`get_decimal`](#get_decimal)
    -   [`get_decimal_list`](#get_decimal_list)
    -   [`get_dict`](#get_dict)
    -   [`get_email`](#get_email)
    -   [`get_float`](#get_float)
    -   [`get_float_list`](#get_float_list)
    -   [`get_int`](#get_int)
    -   [`get_int_list`](#get_int_list)
    -   [`get_list`](#get_list)
    -   [`get_list_item`](#get_list_item)
    -   [`get_phonenumber`](#get_phonenumber)
    -   [`get_slug`](#get_slug)
    -   [`get_slug_list`](#get_slug_list)
    -   [`get_str`](#get_str)
    -   [`get_str_list`](#get_str_list)

### Utility methods

These methods are common utilities that will speed up your everyday work.

Utilities that accept key argument(s) also support keypath(s).

Utilities that return a dictionary always return a new `benedict` instance.

-   #### clean

```python
# Clean the current dict instance removing all empty values: None, '', {}, [], ().
# If strings or collections (dict, list, set, tuple) flags are False,
# related empty values will not be deleted.
d.clean(strings=True, collections=True)
```

-   #### clone

```python
# Return a clone (deepcopy) of the dict.
c = d.clone()
```

-   #### dump

```python
# Return a readable representation of any dict/list.
# This method can be used both as static method or instance method.
s = benedict.dump(d.keypaths())
print(s)
# or
d = benedict()
print(d.dump())
```

-   #### filter

```python
# Return a filtered dict using the given predicate function.
# Predicate function receives key, value arguments and should return a bool value.
predicate = lambda k, v: v is not None
f = d.filter(predicate)
```

-   #### find

```python
# Return the first match searching for the given keys/keypaths.
# If no result found, default value is returned.
keys = ['a.b.c', 'm.n.o', 'x.y.z']
f = d.find(keys, default=0)
```

-   #### flatten

```python
# Return a new flattened dict using the given separator to join nested dict keys to flatten keypaths.
f = d.flatten(separator='_')
```

-   #### groupby

```python
# Group a list of dicts at key by the value of the given by_key and return a new dict.
g = d.groupby('cities', by_key='country_code')
```

-   #### invert

```python
# Return an inverted dict where values become keys and keys become values.
# Since multiple keys could have the same value, each value will be a list of keys.
# If flat is True each value will be a single value (use this only if values are unique).
i = d.invert(flat=False)
```

-   #### items_sorted_by_keys

```python
# Return items (key/value list) sorted by keys.
# If reverse is True, the list will be reversed.
items = d.items_sorted_by_keys(reverse=False)
```

-   #### items_sorted_by_values

```python
# Return items (key/value list) sorted by values.
# If reverse is True, the list will be reversed.
items = d.items_sorted_by_values(reverse=False)
```

-   #### keypaths

```python
# Return a list of all keypaths in the dict.
# If indexes is True, the output will include list values indexes.
k = d.keypaths(indexes=False)
print(k)
```

-   #### match

```python
# Return a list of all values whose keypath matches the given pattern (a regex or string).
# If pattern is string, wildcard can be used (eg. [*] can be used to match all list indexes).
# If indexes is True, the pattern will be matched also against list values.
d.match(pattern, indexes=True)
```

-   #### merge

```python
# Merge one or more dictionary objects into current instance (deepupdate).
# Sub-dictionaries keys will be merged toghether.
# If overwrite is False, existing values will not be overwritten.
d.merge(a, b, c, overwrite=True)
```

-   #### move

```python
# Move an item from key_src to key_dst.
# It can be used to rename a key.
# If key_dst exists, its value will be overwritten.
d.move('a', 'b', overwrite=True)
```

-   #### nest

```python
# Nest a list of dicts at the given key and return a new nested list
# using the specified keys to establish the correct items hierarchy.
d.nest('values', id_key='id', parent_id_key='parent_id', children_key='children')
```

-   #### remove

```python
# Remove multiple keys from the dict.
# It is possible to pass a single key or more keys (as list or *args).
d.remove(['firstname', 'lastname', 'email'])
```

-   #### rename

```python
# Rename a dict item key from 'key' to 'key_new'.
# If key_new exists, a KeyError will be raised.
d.rename('first_name', 'firstname')
```

-   #### search

```python
# Search and return a list of items (dict, key, value, ) matching the given query.
r = d.search('hello', in_keys=True, in_values=True, exact=False, case_sensitive=False)
```

-   #### standardize

```python
# Standardize all dict keys, e.g. "Location Latitude" -> "location_latitude".
d.standardize()
```

-   #### subset

```python
# Return a dict subset for the given keys.
# It is possible to pass a single key or more keys (as list or *args).
s = d.subset(['firstname', 'lastname', 'email'])
```

-   #### swap

```python
# Swap items values at the given keys.
d.swap('firstname', 'lastname')
```

-   #### traverse

```python
# Traverse a dict passing each item (dict, key, value) to the given callback function.
def f(d, key, value):
    print('dict: {} - key: {} - value: {}'.format(d, key, value))
d.traverse(f)
```

-   #### unflatten

```python
# Return a new unflattened dict using the given separator to split dict keys to nested keypaths.
u = d.unflatten(separator='_')
```

-   #### unique

```python
# Remove duplicated values from the dict.
d.unique()
```

### I/O methods

It is possible to create a `benedict` instance directly from data source (filepath, url or data-string) by passing the data source and the data format (default 'json') in the constructor.

```python
# filepath
d = benedict('/root/data.yml', format='yaml')

# url
d = benedict('https://localhost:8000/data.xml', format='xml')

# data-string
d = benedict('{"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3, "x": 7, "y": 8, "z": 9}')
```

These methods simplify I/O operations with most common formats: `base64`, `csv`, `json`, `pickle`, `plist`, `query-string`, `toml`, `xml`, `yaml`.

In all `from_*` methods, the first argument can be: **url**, **filepath** or **data-string**.

In all `to_*` methods, if `filepath='...'` kwarg is specified, the output will be also **saved** at the specified filepath.

-   #### from_base64

```python
# Try to load/decode a base64 encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to choose the subformat used under the hood:
# (`csv`, `json`, `query-string`, `toml`, `xml`, `yaml`), default: 'json'.
# It's possible to choose the encoding, default 'utf-8'.
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_base64(s, subformat='json', encoding='utf-8', **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_csv

```python
# Try to load/decode a csv encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.ù
# It's possible to specify the columns list, default: None (in this case the first row values will be used as keys).
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/csv.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_csv(s, columns=None, columns_row=True, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_json

```python
# Try to load/decode a json encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/json.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_json(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_pickle

```python
# Try to load/decode a pickle encoded in Base64 format and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/pickle.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_pickle(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_plist

```python
# Try to load/decode a p-list encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/plistlib.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_plist(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_query_string

```python
# Try to load/decode a query-string and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_query_string(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_toml

```python
# Try to load/decode a toml encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://pypi.org/project/toml/
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_toml(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_xml

```python
# Try to load/decode a xml encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://github.com/martinblech/xmltodict
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_xml(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### from_yaml

```python
# Try to load/decode a yaml encoded data and return it as benedict instance.
# Accept as first argument: url, filepath or data-string.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://pyyaml.org/wiki/PyYAMLDocumentation
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.from_yaml(s, **kwargs)
```

-   #### to_base64

```python
# Return the dict instance encoded in base64 format and optionally save it at the specified 'filepath'.
# It's possible to choose the subformat used under the hood:
# ('csv', json', `query-string`, 'toml', 'xml', 'yaml'), default: 'json'.
# It's possible to choose the encoding, default 'utf-8'.
# It's possible to pass decoder specific options using kwargs.
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_base64(subformat='json', encoding='utf-8', **kwargs)
```

-   #### to_csv

```python
# Return a list of dicts encoded in csv format and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# It's possible to specify the key of the item (list of dicts) to encode, default: 'values'.
# It's possible to specify the columns list, default: None (in this case the keys of the first item will be used).
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
d = benedict.to_csv(key='values', columns=None, columns_row=True, **kwargs)
```

-   #### to_json

```python
# Return the dict instance encoded in json format and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# It's possible to pass encoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/json.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_json(**kwargs)
```

-   #### to_pickle

```python
# Return the dict instance as pickle encoded in Base64 format and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# The pickle protocol used by default is 2.
# It's possible to pass encoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/pickle.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_pickle(**kwargs)
```

-   #### to_plist

```python
# Return the dict instance encoded in p-list format and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# It's possible to pass encoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://docs.python.org/3/library/plistlib.html
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_plist(**kwargs)
```

-   #### to_query_string

```python
# Return the dict instance as query-string and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_query_string(**kwargs)
```

-   #### to_toml

```python
# Return the dict instance encoded in toml format and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# It's possible to pass encoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://pypi.org/project/toml/
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_toml(**kwargs)
```

-   #### to_xml

```python
# Return the dict instance encoded in xml format and optionally save it at the specified filepath.
# It's possible to pass encoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://github.com/martinblech/xmltodict
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_xml(**kwargs)
```

-   #### to_yaml

```python
# Return the dict instance encoded in yaml format.
# If filepath option is passed the output will be saved ath
# It's possible to pass encoder specific options using kwargs:
# https://pyyaml.org/wiki/PyYAMLDocumentation
# A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
s = d.to_yaml(**kwargs)
```

### Parse methods

These methods are wrappers of the `get` method, they parse data trying to return it in the expected type.

-   #### get_bool

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as bool.
# Values like `1`, `true`, `yes`, `on`, `ok` will be returned as `True`.
d.get_bool(key, default=False)
```

-   #### get_bool_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of bool values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_bool_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

-   #### get_datetime

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as datetime.
# If format is not specified it will be autodetected.
# If choices and value is in choices return value otherwise default.
d.get_datetime(key, default=None, format=None, choices=[])
```

-   #### get_datetime_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of datetime values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_datetime_list(key, default=[], format=None, separator=',')
```

-   #### get_decimal

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as Decimal.
# If choices and value is in choices return value otherwise default.
d.get_decimal(key, default=Decimal('0.0'), choices=[])
```

-   #### get_decimal_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of Decimal values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_decimal_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

-   #### get_dict

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as dict.
# If value is a json string it will be automatically decoded.
d.get_dict(key, default={})
```

-   #### get_email

```python
# Get email by key or keypath and return it.
# If value is blacklisted it will be automatically ignored.
# If check_blacklist is False, it will be not ignored even if blacklisted.
d.get_email(key, default='', choices=None, check_blacklist=True)
```

-   #### get_float

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as float.
# If choices and value is in choices return value otherwise default.
d.get_float(key, default=0.0, choices=[])
```

-   #### get_float_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of float values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_float_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

-   #### get_int

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as int.
# If choices and value is in choices return value otherwise default.
d.get_int(key, default=0, choices=[])
```

-   #### get_int_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of int values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_int_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

-   #### get_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

-   #### get_list_item

```python
# Get list by key or keypath and return value at the specified index.
# If separator is specified and list value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_list_item(key, index=0, default=None, separator=',')
```

-   #### get_phonenumber

```python
# Get phone number by key or keypath and return a dict with different formats (e164, international, national).
# If country code is specified (alpha 2 code), it will be used to parse phone number correctly.
d.get_phonenumber(key, country_code=None, default=None)
```

-   #### get_slug

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as slug.
# If choices and value is in choices return value otherwise default.
d.get_slug(key, default='', choices=[])
```

-   #### get_slug_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of slug values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_slug_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

-   #### get_str

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as string.
# Encoding issues will be automatically fixed.
# If choices and value is in choices return value otherwise default.
d.get_str(key, default='', choices=[])
```

-   #### get_str_list

```python
# Get value by key or keypath trying to return it as list of str values.
# If separator is specified and value is a string it will be splitted.
d.get_str_list(key, default=[], separator=',')
```

## Testing
```bash
# create python virtual environment
virtualenv testing_benedict

# activate virtualenv
cd testing_benedict && . bin/activate

# clone repo
git clone https://github.com/fabiocaccamo/python-benedict.git src && cd src

# install requirements
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -r requirements.txt

# run tests using tox
tox

# or run tests using unittest
python -m unittest

# or run tests using setuptools
python setup.py test
```

## License
Released under [MIT License](LICENSE.txt).