Python: can I have a list with named indices?

In PHP I can name my array indices so that I may have something like:

$shows = Array(0 => Array('id' => 1, 'name' => 'Sesame Street'), 
               1 => Array('id' => 2, 'name' => 'Dora The Explorer'));

Is this possible in Python?

Solution 1:

This sounds like the PHP array using named indices is very similar to a python dict:

shows = [
  {"id": 1, "name": "Sesaeme Street"},
  {"id": 2, "name": "Dora The Explorer"},
]

See http://docs.python.org/tutorial/datastructures.html#dictionaries for more on this.

PHP arrays are actually maps, which is equivalent to dicts in Python.

Thus, this is the Python equivalent:

showlist = [{'id':1, 'name':'Sesaeme Street'}, {'id':2, 'name':'Dora the Explorer'}]

Sorting example:

from operator import attrgetter

showlist.sort(key=attrgetter('id'))

BUT! With the example you provided, a simpler datastructure would be better:

shows = {1: 'Sesame Street', 2:'Dora the Explorer'}