What is MappingProxyType in Python?

Can you explain what MappingProxyType is in Python?

Sure! MappingProxyType is a built-in function in Python that creates a read-only view of a dictionary.

How does it differ from a regular dictionary?

Unlike a regular dictionary, a MappingProxyType object cannot be modified. It reflects changes in the original dictionary but doesn't allow changes itself.

Can you give me an example of how to use it?

Of course! Here's a simple example:

from types import MappingProxyType

original_dict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
proxy_dict = MappingProxyType(original_dict)

print(proxy_dict)  # Output: {'a': 1, 'b': 2}

# Trying to modify the proxy will raise an error:
# proxy_dict['a'] = 3  # TypeError

This shows how to create a proxy and what happens when you try to modify it.

What are some use cases for MappingProxyType?

It's useful when you want to expose a read-only view of a dictionary to prevent accidental modifications while still reflecting updates.