python dictionary best practice

Question

I am new to Python. I want to create a dictionary. Each key will have three values.

Which is a better approach?:

1.One Dictionary like this:

dict = {'a': [value1, value2, value3], 'b': [value1, value2, value3], ...}

2.Three dictionaries like this:

dict1 = {'a': value1, 'b': value1}

dict2 = {'a': value2, 'b': value2}

dict3 = {'a': value3, 'b': value3}

Answer 1

Having a single dictionary with lists as data saved inside it is most likely the best option.

Quoting your example you can access both the whole list or single elements with dict['a'] or dict['a'][x] where x is 0,1,2,etc.

In this way, you can also apply all the function you need to the whole list way easily like reordering etc.

Of course it always depend on the use case and the type of data you want/have to save and/or process.