defaultdict2

Returns a new dictionary-like object

Behaves exactly like Python's defaultdict.

npm install --save defaultdict2

defaultdict(default_factory, initial_dict)

default_factory: value or function to be used for missing keys initial_dict: (optional) dictionary to start with

See this live demo to check whether your browser implements Proxies (Edge, FF, Chrome).

Getting started

The first argument is the value for missing keys - it can be a value or function like in Python.

var defaultdict = require('defaultdict2');
var d = defaultdict(0);
d.a++; 
d.b++;
console.log(d);
// { a: 1, b: 1 }

The same example using a function:

var d = defaultdict(()=>0);
d.a++; 
d.b++;
console.log(d);
// { a: 1, b: 1 }

The function will be called with two arguments target_dict,name.

Initial dictionary

You can add an initial dictionary as second argument.

var d = defaultdict(0, {a: 1});
d.b++;
console.log(d);
// { a: 1, b: 1 }

Nested dictionaries

There is no limit to your creativity!

var d = defaultdict(()=>defaultdict(0));
d.a.b++;
console.log(d);
// { a: { b: 1 } }

Using in a browser

Unfortunately ES6 proxies aren't fully adopted in browsers, so this might not work in every browser.

However Edge, FF and Chrome (>49) support it.

Embedding in your client script

A) Traditional include

<script src="https://cdn.rawgit.com/greenify/defaultdict2/master/src/index.js"></script>

B) With webpack or browserify

If you use webpack or browserify, please require the browser-part of defaultdict:

var defaultdict = require('defaultdict/browser');

C) Bower

bower install --save defaultdict2

And then the script to your page

<script src=".../bower_components/defaultdict2/src/index.js"></script>

Gotchas

1. Javascript doesn't allow string keys on dictionaries -> h[20] will create the key '20'

var p = defaultdict(0, {1: 1});
console.log(1 in p);
// false
console.log('1' in p);
// true

2. Be careful when checking for existence. Either use in or set the d.default_factory to undefined

var p = defaultdict(0, {a: 1});
console.log('b' in p);
// false
p.default_factory = undefined;
console.log(p.b);
// undefined

Requirements

This depends on ES6 proxies. They should be part of your node version.

License

The MIT License