How to Get Dictionary Values as a List in Python

A common task in Python is to extract all the values from a dictionary and store them in a list. This is useful when you no longer need the keys and want to perform list-specific operations like sorting or appending. The primary tool for this is the dict.values() method, which returns a special "view" of the dictionary's values. This view must then be explicitly converted into a list.

This guide will explain the dict.values() object and demonstrate the three standard, Pythonic ways to convert it into a list: using the list() constructor, the unpacking operator (*), and a list comprehension.

Understanding the dict.values() View Object

When you call .values() on a dictionary, it doesn't return a list directly. Instead, it returns a dynamic view object of the type dict_values.

organization = {
    'ceo': 'Tom',
    'coo': 'Andy',
    'cfo': 'Johnny'
}

values_view = organization.values()
print(values_view)
print(type(values_view))

Output:

dict_values(['Tom', 'Andy', 'Johnny'])
<class 'dict_values'>

This view is a memory-efficient representation that is linked to the original dictionary. If the dictionary changes, the view reflects those changes. However, it is not a list and does not have list-specific methods like .append() or .sort(). To use those, you must convert it.

Method 1: Using the list() Constructor (Recommended)

The most direct, readable, and idiomatic way to convert the dict_values view into a list is to pass it to the built-in list() constructor.

Solution:

organization = {
    'ceo': 'Tom',
    'coo': 'Andy',
    'cfo': 'Johnny'
}

values_list = list(organization.values())

print(values_list)
print(type(values_list))

Output:

['Tom', 'Andy', 'Johnny']
<class 'list'>

Method 2: Using the Unpacking Operator (*)

A modern and equally concise alternative is to use the unpacking operator (*) inside a list literal ([]). This operator, also known as the "splat" operator, unpacks the elements from the dict_values iterable and places them into the new list.

Solution:

organization = {
    'ceo': 'Tom',
    'coo': 'Andy',
    'cfo': 'Johnny'
}

values_list = [*organization.values()]

print(values_list)

Output:

['Tom', 'Andy', 'Johnny']

Method 3: Using a List Comprehension

A list comprehension is another powerful way to create the list. While slightly more verbose for a direct conversion, it becomes extremely useful when you need to filter or transform the values as you convert them.

Solution for Direct Conversion

organization = {
    'ceo': 'Tom',
    'coo': 'Andy',
    'cfo': 'Johnny'
}

values_list = [value for value in organization.values()]

print(values_list)

Output:

['Tom', 'Andy', 'Johnny']

Solution with Transformation (Example)

Here's where list comprehensions shine. Let's get the values and convert them to uppercase in one line.

organization = {
    'ceo': 'Tom',
    'coo': 'Andy',
    'cfo': 'Johnny'
}

uppercase_values_list = [value.upper() for value in organization.values()]

print(uppercase_values_list)

Output:

['TOM', 'ANDY', 'JOHNNY']

Conclusion

While all three methods effectively convert dictionary values to a list, list(my_dict.values()) is the most direct and widely understood idiom for a simple conversion.