Python – Render Initials as Dictionary Key

Given List of Strings, convert to dictionary with Key as initial value of values. Won’t work in cases having words with similar initials. 

Input : test_list = [“geeksforgeeks”, “is”, “best”] 
Output : {‘g’: ‘geeksforgeeks’, ‘i’: ‘is’, ‘b’: ‘best’} 
Explanation : Keys constructed from initial character.
Input : test_list = [“geeksforgeeks”, “best”] 
Output : {‘g’: ‘geeksforgeeks’, ‘b’: ‘best’} 
Explanation : Keys constructed from initial character. 

Method #1 : Using loop 

In this, we create each dictionary by getting initial element using string element access and render value as list element.

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate working of
# Render Initials as Dictionary Key
# Using loop

# initializing list
test_list = ["geeksforgeeks", "is", "best"]

# printing original list
print("The original list is : " + str(test_list))

res = dict()
for ele in test_list:

    # assigning initials as key
    res[ele[0]] = ele

# printing result
print("Constructed Dictionary : " + str(res))

Output

The original list is : ['geeksforgeeks', 'is', 'best']
Constructed Dictionary : {'g': 'geeksforgeeks', 'i': 'is', 'b': 'best'}

Method #2 : Using dictionary comprehension 

In this, we create dictionary using shorthand method similar to above method, to provide one liner alternative to actual problem.

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate working of
# Render Initials as Dictionary Key
# Using dictionary comprehension

# initializing list
test_list = ["geeksforgeeks", "is", "best"]

# printing original list
print("The original list is : " + str(test_list))

# constructing dictionary
res = {ele[0] : ele for ele in test_list}

# printing result
print("Constructed Dictionary : " + str(res))

Output

The original list is : ['geeksforgeeks', 'is', 'best']
Constructed Dictionary : {'g': 'geeksforgeeks', 'i': 'is', 'b': 'best'}