Python list encoding

Question

I have a dictionary which looks like this.

{ latex schlüpfer : [455, 'latex schl\xc3\xbcpfer', 5.0, 0.0, 0.0, 24.6] }

Why is my list value at index 1 showing in a different encoding?

I've tried replacing it with the key as well as appending it and it always comes out the same.

Even when I go:

print key # latex schlüpfer 
print [key] # latex schl\xc3\xbcpfer

What's going on?

I'm trying to check if the item exists but the encoding issues appear to be preventing me from doing this as I'm comparing latex schl\xc3\xbcpfer to latex schlüpfer

Answer 1

objects inside a list are printed using their __repr__ method. this reproduces your output:

# coding=utf-8
s = 'latex schlüpfer'
print(s)
print(repr(s))

it prints

latex schlüpfer
'latex schl\xc3\xbcpfer'

• Adders: Yes, ignore the words haha
• Adders: So should comparing the values be right or will they also be their repr versions?
• hiro protagonist: the comparison wil not use repr (repr is just a [short] string representation of an object; comparison calls these methods).

Answer 2

You can try to encode your entire dictionary by using the follow code:

mydict = {k: unicode(v).encode("utf-8") for k,v in mydict.iteritems()}

This uses a dictionary comprehension.