How can I use dictionaries as a switch case in Python?

How can I use dictionaries as a switch case in Python?

You can use dictionaries to simulate switch-case behavior by mapping keys to functions or values. For example, you can define a dictionary where keys are the cases and values are the corresponding actions.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

def case_one():
    return 'This is case one'

def case_two():
    return 'This is case two'

switch = {
    'case1': case_one,
    'case2': case_two,
}

result = switch.get('case1', lambda: 'Invalid case')()
print(result)  # Output: This is case one

What if I want to handle a default case?

You can provide a default function using the get method of the dictionary. In the example above, lambda: 'Invalid case' serves as the default case if the key is not found.

Is this approach efficient?

Yes, using dictionaries for switch-case can be efficient, especially when you have many cases, as it allows for O(1) average time complexity for lookups.