How do I convert string to dictionary?

Question

I am trying to convert this string into a json object : -

coordinates = "{ lat: '55,7303650017903', lng: '12,3446636123658' }"

I tried using json.loads(), it didn't work for me. Is there a way I can achieve this?

• Tibin: string looks like javascript object
• Alan Kavanagh: I was just about to comment as per @Chris Doyles comment -- this is not a python dictionary as your keys do not have quotes around them
• Chris Doyle: The problem you have is that this string is neither a valid python dict nor valid json object.
• Derrick Omanwa: Okay. Thanks for the correction. But is there a way I can retrieve the value of a key? For example , the value of 'lat'

Answer 1

I recommend using demjson python parser for achieving this , since the string is js object

import demjson
print(demjson.decode("{ lat: '55,7303650017903', lng: '12,3446636123658' }"))

• Derrick Omanwa: Thanks a lot. This is really useful
• maestromusica: Note that other solutions do not need installing package

Answer 2

Using regex to add quotes around the key and then use the ast module

Ex:

import re
import ast
coordinates = "{ lat: '55,7303650017903', lng: '12,3446636123658' }"
coordinates = re.sub(r"(\w+)(?=:)", r'"1円"', coordinates)
print(ast.literal_eval(coordinates))

Output:

{'lat': '55,7303650017903', 'lng': '12,3446636123658'}

Answer 3

A possible solution would be to use a regular expression:

import re
coordinates = "{ lat: '55,7303650017903', lng: '12,3446636123658' }"
pattern = r"{ lat: '(.*)', lng: '(.*)' }"
lat, lng = re.findall(pattern, coordinates)[0]

This solution does not require importing any additional packages beyond re. If you want then want a dictionary with those values:

cords = { "lat": lat, "lng": lng }

Answer 4

You need to use json.loads:

import json
coordinates = '{ "lat": "55,7303650017903", "lng": "12,3446636123658" }'
datastore = json.loads(coordinates)
print(json.dumps(datastore))

You can try in an online repl: https://repl.it/languages/python3

• Chris Doyle: This isnt a solution since your string is not the same as the string the OP has
• Carlos Jafet Neto: Sure, like its been said need quotes on the keys. this is implicit.
• Chris Doyle: yeah but this isnt a general solution. you have to assume the OP is getting this string from somewhere else and it could haev anything in it. If your answer is the OP should just implicitly change the string. you may as well say the OP can implicitly write it as s dict in the code
• Carlos Jafet Neto: Ok, Chris! Got it! Thanks!