python-benedict
python-benedict is a dict subclass with keylist/keypath/keyattr support, normalized I/O operations (base64, csv, ini, json, pickle, plist, query-string, toml, xls, xml, yaml) and many utilities... for humans, obviously.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Low install friction, active maintenance, permissive MIT license, no known vulnerabilities, and a well-established codebase (since 2019) with solid adoption. Install it if you work frequently with nested dicts, multi-format data loading, or want cleaner syntax for accessing deeply nested values—the keypath and I/O features alone justify it for data-heavy applications.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low friction install with only two runtime dependencies (python-slugify and typing_extensions).
- Active maintenance with a recent release 38 days ago and 1609 repository stars.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — MIT License permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
last release 2026-07-07 (38 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-10 · 1,609 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,470,710 downloads/mo, #3,870 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from benedict import benedict
# Create from dict or data source
d = benedict({"profile": {"name": "Alice"}})
# Access via keypath (dot notation)
name = d["profile.name"]
# Or via attribute access
name = d.profile.name- Whether optional I/O backends (S3, URL, filesystem) require additional system dependencies beyond the listed runtime deps
- Performance characteristics when working with deeply nested structures or large datasets
- Compatibility with non-string dictionary keys and edge cases in keypath parsing
What it is and what it does
python-benedict is a drop-in dict subclass that extends Python dictionaries with three main conveniences: keypath access (using dot notation like `d["a.b.c"]`), attribute-style access (like `d.a.b.c`), and keylist access (using lists of keys). It also normalizes I/O operations across common data formats—JSON, YAML, CSV, XML, TOML, INI, HTML, pickle, plist, base64, and query-strings—allowing you to load and save data from files, URLs, or S3 with a single method call.
Because it's a true dict subclass, you can wrap existing dictionaries without breaking code that expects a dict. The package includes utility methods for common operations like flattening, merging, filtering, and searching nested structures. It's fully backward-compatible and well-tested, with optional Pydantic v2 schema validation available when needed.
Use it for
- Load configuration from JSON, YAML, or TOML files and access nested values using dot notation instead of chained bracket access.
- Parse CSV or query-string data into a dict-like object and traverse results using keypath syntax with list-index support.
- Transform data between formats (e.g., read XML, manipulate as a dict, export as JSON) using unified I/O methods.
- Build dynamic nested structures using attribute assignment (with keyattr_dynamic=True) without pre-creating intermediate dicts.
- Flatten or unflatten nested dictionaries for database storage or API payloads using built-in utility methods.
- Integrate into Django views to parse request parameters with type coercion (e.g., get_int, get_decimal).
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Low install friction, active maintenance, permissive MIT license, no known vulnerabilities, and a well-established codebase (since 2019) with solid adoption. Install it if you work frequently with nested dicts, multi-format data loading, or want cleaner syntax for accessing deeply nested values—the keypath and I/O features alone justify it for data-heavy applications.
Install
python-benedict on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with only two runtime dependencies (python-slugify and typing_extensions). Active maintenance with a recent release 38 days ago and 1609 repository stars.
License in practice
MIT License permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
Quickstart
from benedict import benedict
# Create from dict or data source
d = benedict({"profile": {"name": "Alice"}})
# Access via keypath (dot notation)
name = d["profile.name"]
# Or via attribute access
name = d.profile.nameVerify before relying
- Whether optional I/O backends (S3, URL, filesystem) require additional system dependencies beyond the listed runtime deps
- Performance characteristics when working with deeply nested structures or large datasets
- Compatibility with non-string dictionary keys and edge cases in keypath parsing
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagespython-slugifytyping_extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 38 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,470,710 / month, #3,870 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: MacOS XEnvironment :: Other EnvironmentEnvironment :: Web EnvironmentEnvironment :: Win32 (MS Windows)Intended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: EducationIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Education :: TestingTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: System :: FilesystemsTopic :: Text Processing :: Markup :: XMLTopic :: UtilitiesTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: python_benedict-0.38.0-py3-none-any.whl
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