namedtuple and OrderedDict
Other handy collections.
namedtuple and OrderedDict is a free Python Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Python Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Two more handy collections
The collections module includes namedtuple for readable record-like tuples and OrderedDict for dictionaries with extra ordering methods.
Import them with from collections import namedtuple, OrderedDict.
from collections import namedtuple, OrderedDict
print(namedtuple)
print(OrderedDict)Defining a namedtuple
namedtuple(name, fields) creates a new tuple subclass. You pass the type name and a list of field names. The result is a class you can instantiate.
from collections import namedtuple
Point = namedtuple('Point', ['x', 'y'])
p = Point(3, 4)
print(p)Access by name
The big win: read fields by name instead of cryptic index numbers, which makes code far more readable.
from collections import namedtuple
Point = namedtuple('Point', ['x', 'y'])
p = Point(3, 4)
print(p.x)
print(p.y)Still a tuple
A namedtuple is a real tuple, so indexing, unpacking, and iteration all still work.
from collections import namedtuple
Point = namedtuple('Point', ['x', 'y'])
p = Point(3, 4)
print(p[0])
x, y = p
print(x + y)Immutable but replaceable
Like all tuples, namedtuples are immutable. To get a modified copy, use ._replace(), which returns a new instance.
from collections import namedtuple
Point = namedtuple('Point', ['x', 'y'])
p = Point(3, 4)
q = p._replace(y=10)
print(p)
print(q)Converting to a dict
._asdict() turns a namedtuple into a regular dictionary mapping field names to values.
from collections import namedtuple
Car = namedtuple('Car', ['make', 'year'])
c = Car('Toyota', 2026)
print(c._asdict())Default values
Provide defaults when defining a namedtuple. Defaults apply to the rightmost fields, so you can omit them when creating instances.
from collections import namedtuple
User = namedtuple('User', ['name', 'role'], defaults=['guest'])
print(User('Alice'))
print(User('Bob', 'admin'))Inspecting fields
The ._fields attribute lists the field names, useful for introspection or building generic code.
from collections import namedtuple
Color = namedtuple('Color', ['r', 'g', 'b'])
print(Color._fields)OrderedDict basics
OrderedDict remembers insertion order. Since Python 3.7 regular dicts also keep order, but OrderedDict adds extra ordering methods you cannot get otherwise.
from collections import OrderedDict
od = OrderedDict()
od['first'] = 1
od['second'] = 2
print(od)move_to_end
.move_to_end(key) shifts a key to the end (or the start with last=False). This is unique to OrderedDict and handy for LRU-style logic.
from collections import OrderedDict
od = OrderedDict(a=1, b=2, c=3)
od.move_to_end('a')
print(list(od.keys()))
od.move_to_end('c', last=False)
print(list(od.keys()))Order-sensitive equality
Two OrderedDict objects are equal only if their items are in the same order. Plain dicts ignore order in comparisons.
from collections import OrderedDict
a = OrderedDict([('x', 1), ('y', 2)])
b = OrderedDict([('y', 2), ('x', 1)])
print(a == b)
print(dict(a) == dict(b))Quick Check
How do you create a modified copy of a namedtuple, since it is immutable?
Recap: namedtuple and OrderedDict
Summary:
namedtuple(name, fields)makes readable, immutable records with named access.- Use
._replace()for modified copies and._asdict()to convert to a dict. OrderedDictkeeps insertion order and adds.move_to_end().- OrderedDict equality is order-sensitive, unlike a plain dict.
from collections import namedtuple
Pt = namedtuple('Pt', ['x', 'y'])
print(Pt(1, 2)._asdict())Frequently asked questions
Is the “namedtuple and OrderedDict” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “namedtuple and OrderedDict” is free to read here on the web, and the Python Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Python Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “namedtuple and OrderedDict”?
Other handy collections. You practise Python Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Python Academy?
No prior experience is required. Python Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “namedtuple and OrderedDict” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Python Academy lesson?
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All lessons in this course
- Counter
- defaultdict
- deque
- namedtuple and OrderedDict