Python Dictionary with Keys having Multiple Inputs

Last Updated : 3 Feb, 2026

In Python, dictionaries store data as key-value pairs. Tuples can be used as keys to represent multiple values, like coordinates or combinations, because they are immutable and hashable.

Let's consider an example where tuples are used as keys to store multiple numbers together:

Python 
points = {}

points[(1, 2)] = "A"
points[(3, 4)] = "B"

print(points[(1, 2)]) 
print(points[(3, 4)])

Output
A
B

Explanation:

  • Each key is a tuple representing multiple inputs.
  • The value can be any data (here, "A" and "B").
  • Access values using the tuple key.

Dictionary with Multiple Inputs as Keys

Let's consider an example where we use tuples as dictionary keys to store multiple numbers together, with each tuple mapping to a value.

Python 
dict = {}

dict[(1, 2, 3)] = "First"
dict[(4, 5, 6)] = "Second"

print(dict[(1, 2, 3)])  
print(dict[(4, 5, 6)])  

print(dict)

Output
First
Second
{(1, 2, 3): 'First', (4, 5, 6): 'Second'}

Explanation:

  • dict[(1, 2, 3)] = "First": Uses the tuple (1, 2, 3) as a key and stores "First" as its value.
  • dict[(4, 5, 6)] = "Second": Uses the tuple (4, 5, 6) as a key and stores "Second" as its value.
  • You can access values using the tuple key: dict[(1, 2, 3)] gives "First".

Using Multi-Keys to Store Coordinates

Let's consider a scenario where latitude and longitude are used as keys, and their corresponding place names are stored as values.

Python 
places = {
    ("19.07'53.2", "72.54'51.0"): "Mumbai",
    ("28.33'34.1", "77.06'16.6"): "Delhi"
}

print(places)
print('\n')

lat, long, plc = [], [], []
for i in places:
    lat.append(i[0])
    long.append(i[1])
    plc.append(places[i])

print(lat)
print(long)
print(plc)

Output
{("19.07'53.2", "72.54'51.0"): 'Mumbai', ("28.33'34.1", "77.06'16.6"): 'Delhi'}


["19.07'53.2", "28.33'34.1"]
["72.54'51.0", "77.06'16.6"]
['Mumbai', 'Delhi']

Explanation:

  • Tuples (latitude, longitude) are used as dictionary keys.
  • Values store the place names.
  • You can easily extract latitudes, longitudes, and place names into separate lists.

Complex Dictionary with Multiple Key Inputs

In this example, each key is a tuple containing three elements - an integer ID, first name, and last name, and each value is itself a nested dictionary with additional details.

Python 
data = {
    (1, "John", "Doe"): {"a": "geeks", "b": "software", "c": 75000},
    (2, "Jane", "Smith"): {"e": 30, "f": "for", "g": 90000},
    (3, "Bob", "Johnson"): {"h": 35, "i": "project", "j": "geeks"},
    (4, "Alice", "Lee"): {"k": 40, "l": "marketing", "m": 100000}
}

print(data[(1, "John", "Doe")]["a"])
print(data[(2, "Jane", "Smith")]["f"])
print(data[(3, "Bob", "Johnson")]["j"])

data[(1, "John", "Doe")]["a"] = {"b": "marketing", "c": 75000}
data[(3, "Bob", "Johnson")]["j"] = {"h": 35, "i": "project"}

print(data[(1, "John", "Doe")]["a"])
print(data[(3, "Bob", "Johnson")]["j"])

Output
geeks
for
geeks
{'b': 'marketing', 'c': 75000}
{'h': 35, 'i': 'project'}

Explanation:

  • Each tuple key uniquely identifies a record.
  • The nested dictionary stores related data for that key.
  • You can easily access or update values using the key tuple and dictionary keys.
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