Attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’

In this article, we will deal with the error attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’.

We will look for solutions and discuss what is this error all about.

Let’ ‘s start!

Particularly, append() attribute is not supported by the dict object.

Therefore, if the append() function is called in the ‘dict’, the error AttributeError: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’ will be raised.

What is attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’?

The AttributeError: dict object has no attribute append is an error that occurs when you call the append() method on a dictionary object.

Here is how this error occurs:

val = {'a': 5, 'b': 10}
val.append(15)

Output:

AttributeError: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’

In the code above, the val variable is assigned a dictionary object as its value. A dictionary object is defined by curly brackets.

When the append() method is called along with the variable, the error occurred.

How to resolve attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’

Here are the following solutions that can help you with this type of error attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’.

Solution 1: Assign a key-value pair in a dict object.

The error AttributeError: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’ will occur once we call the append() function in the python variable which is assigned with dict object.

Wherein the right way is python dict should be assigned by a value using the assignment operator as a key-value pair.

Take a look at the example code below where we assign key-value pair in dict object:

a = {};
a['key']= ' itsourcecode'
print(a)

Output:

{‘key’: ‘ itsourcecode’}

Solution 2: Create a python list to use the append function

The error AttributeError: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’ occurs if the python variable is s assigned to the dict object instead of the python list.

To fix this the python variable should be assigned to the python list instead of the python dict object.

Example code:

my_list = [];
my_list.append(' itsourcecode')
print (my_list)

Output:

[‘ itsourcecode’]

Solution 3: Create key with value of the type list

In case we really want to use append() in dict object, it requires to have a list with a key value. Wherein a key value is added to the dict object with a value of the type list.

Example:

example = {};
example['key']= []
example['key'].append('itsourcecode')
print (example)

Output:

{‘key’: [‘itsourcecode’]}

Solution 4: Python variable is verified as a list

Working with python variable type should be verified, whether it is required or supported by a certain append attribute, other it invoked error.

If the type of variable is verified as a list, the append attribute will be triggered.

However, if it is not verified as a list, the append () will not be invoked, wherein it will be ignored upon execution.

Hence, the error will not occur.

Example Program:

val = {};
if type(val) is list:
	val.append(' itsourcecode')
print (val)

Output:

{}

Solution 5: Try and Except Block

Once the variable used is unknown, it will invoke the attribute with try and except block. Wherein try block executes the variable which contains a list.

Meanwhile, the except block handles errors.

See the example code below:

a = {};
try :
	a.append(' itsourcecode')
except :
	print('error');
print(a)

Output:

error {}

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Python error attributeerror: ‘dict’ object has no attribute ‘append’ can be easily solved by using the solutions provided above.

By following the guide above, which works best for you there’s no doubt that you’ll be able to resolve this error quickly and without a hassle.

If you are finding solutions to some errors you might encounter we also have  Attributeerror int object has no attribute append.

Built-in type AttributeError patterns

AttributeErrors on built-in types (dict, list, str, int) almost always indicate a variable overwritten with the wrong type, a version-removed method, or attribute-vs-method confusion.

Common triggers

• Variable is the wrong type. my_list.keys() fails because my_list is a list, not a dict. Print type first.
• Method removed in Python 3. dict.has_key(), list.sort(cmp=...), and others were dropped.
• String method returns str, not list. "hello".split() returns a list. Chaining as if str fails.
• Int has no length. len(5) raises TypeError, but (5).len() raises AttributeError.

Diagnostic pattern

# BAD — assumed dict but variable is list
data = [{"name": "Alice"}, {"name": "Bob"}]
for key in data.keys():  # AttributeError: 'list' object has no attribute 'keys'
    print(key)

# GOOD — iterate list correctly
for item in data:
    print(item["name"])

# BAD — dict.has_key removed in Python 3
if my_dict.has_key("name"):  # AttributeError
    ...

# GOOD — use in operator
if "name" in my_dict:
    ...

Best practices

• Print type(x) when debugging. Confirms what Python actually has.
• Use isinstance() checks. Guard code paths by type.
• Use type hints. mypy catches most type mismatches statically.
• Prefer explicit conversion. list(iterable), dict(pairs), str(value).

Glay Eliver

Programmer & Technical Writer at PIES IT Solution

Glay Eliver is a programmer and writer at PIES IT Solution, author of over 600 tutorials at itsourcecode.com. Specializes in JavaScript tutorials, Microsoft Office how-tos (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and Python error debugging covering ImportError, TypeError, AttributeError, ModuleNotFoundError, and JavaScript ReferenceError. Authored several of the site’s highest-traffic Excel and MS Office reference articles.

Expertise: JavaScript · MS Excel · MS Word · MS PowerPoint · Python · Python ImportError · Python TypeError · Python AttributeError · ModuleNotFoundError · JavaScript ReferenceError · Pygame
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