python - How can I properly copy nested dictionary objects? -

i'm working on project python 2.7 have "complex" dictionary structure, , trying this:

generic_dict = {      'user': {'created': {}, 'modified': {}, 'errors': {}},      'usermon': {'created': {}, 'modified': {}, 'ignored': {}, 'errors': {}}   log_data = {     'esp': generic_dict,     'por': generic_dict,     'sui': generic_dict,     'ben': generic_dict,     'mex': generic_dict,     'arg': generic_dict, } 

i trying use generic dict avoid repeating code have problem if this, when modify of country dicts (esp, ben, por) modifying @ same time.

let's assume dictionary empty , this

log_data['esp']['user']['created']['today'] = 'asdasdasda' 

all other dicts have same value generic_dict same of them.

print log_data['ben']['user']['created'] output: {'today': 'asdasdasda'} print log_data['ben']['user']['created'] output: {'today': 'asdasdasda'} 

i understand what's happening don't know how avoid that

• which best way copy nested dictionary objects ?

you can use copy.deepcopy create new copy of generic_dict object, this

from copy import deepcopy  log_data = {     'esp': deepcopy(generic_dict),     'por': deepcopy(generic_dict),     'sui': deepcopy(generic_dict),     'ben': deepcopy(generic_dict),     'mex': deepcopy(generic_dict),     'arg': deepcopy(generic_dict), } 

---

otherwise, can have constructor function, this

def generic_dict():     return {'user': {'created': {}, 'modified': {}, 'errors': {}},             'usermon': {'created': {}, 'modified':{}, 'ignored': {}, 'errors': {}}} 

and call create new dictionary object every time, this

log_data = {     'esp': generic_dict(),     'por': generic_dict(),     'sui': generic_dict(),     'ben': generic_dict(),     'mex': generic_dict(),     'arg': generic_dict(), }