[python] [] and {} vs list() and dict(), which is better?

I understand that they are both essentially the same thing, but in terms of style, which is the better (more Pythonic) one to use to create an empty list or dict?

A box bracket pair denotes one of a list object, or an index subscript, my_List[x].

A curly brace pair denotes a dictionary object.

a_list = ['on', 'off', 1, 2]

a_dict = { on: 1, off: 2 }

The dict literal might be a tiny bit faster as its bytecode is shorter:

In [1]: import dis
In [2]: a = lambda: {}
In [3]: b = lambda: dict()

In [4]: dis.dis(a)
  1           0 BUILD_MAP                0
              3 RETURN_VALUE

In [5]: dis.dis(b)
  1           0 LOAD_GLOBAL              0 (dict)
              3 CALL_FUNCTION            0
              6 RETURN_VALUE

Same applies to the list vs []

list() and [] work differently:

>>> def a(p):
...     print(id(p))
... 
>>> for r in range(3):
...     a([])
... 
139969725291904
139969725291904
139969725291904
>>> for r in range(3):
...     a(list())
... 
139969725367296
139969725367552
139969725367616

list() always create new object in heap, but [] can reuse memory cell in many reason.

In my opinion [] and {} are the most pythonic and readable ways to create empty lists/dicts.

Be wary of set()'s though, for example:

this_set = {5}
some_other_set = {}

Can be confusing. The first creates a set with one element, the second creates an empty dict and not a set.

there is one difference in behavior between [] and list() as example below shows. we need to use list() if we want to have the list of numbers returned, otherwise we get a map object! No sure how to explain it though.

sth = [(1,2), (3,4),(5,6)]
sth2 = map(lambda x: x[1], sth) 
print(sth2) # print returns object <map object at 0x000001AB34C1D9B0>

sth2 = [map(lambda x: x[1], sth)]
print(sth2) # print returns object <map object at 0x000001AB34C1D9B0>
type(sth2) # list 
type(sth2[0]) # map

sth2 = list(map(lambda x: x[1], sth))
print(sth2) #[2, 4, 6]
type(sth2) # list
type(sth2[0]) # int

It's mainly a matter of choice most of the time. It's a matter of preference.

Note however that if you have numeric keys for example, that you can't do:

mydict = dict(1="foo", 2="bar")

You have to do:

mydict = {"1":"foo", "2":"bar"}

In the case of difference between [] and list(), there is a pitfall that I haven't seen anyone else point out. If you use a dictionary as a member of the list, the two will give entirely different results:

In [1]: foo_dict = {"1":"foo", "2":"bar"}

In [2]: [foo_dict]
Out [2]: [{'1': 'foo', '2': 'bar'}]

In [3]: list(foo_dict)
Out [3]: ['1', '2'] 

IMHO, using list() and dict() makes your Python look like C. Ugh.