Dictionaries

toolbox_python.dictionaries

Summary

The dictionaries module is used how to manipulate and enhance Python dictionaries.

Details

Note that functions in this module will only take-in and manipulate existing dict objects, and also output dict objects. It will not sub-class the base dict object, or create new 'dict-like' objects. It will always maintain pure python types at it's core.

dict_reverse_keys_and_values

dict_reverse_keys_and_values(
    dictionary: dict[Any, Any],
) -> dict[str, Any]

Summary

Take the key and values of a dictionary, and reverse them.

Details

This process is simple enough if the values are atomic types, like str, int, or float types. But it is a little more tricky when the values are more complex types, like list or dict; here we need to use some recursion.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
dictionary	Dict[Any, Any]	The input dict that you'd like to have the keys and values switched.	required

Raises:

Type	Description
TypeCheckError	If any of the inputs parsed to the parameters of this function are not the correct type. Uses the @typeguard.typechecked decorator.
KeyError	When there are duplicate values being coerced to keys in the new dictionary. Raised because a Python dict cannot have duplicate keys of the same value.

Returns:

Name	Type	Description
output_dict	Dict[str, Any]	The updated dict.

Examples

>>> # Imports
>>> from toolbox_python.dictionaries import dict_reverse_keys_and_values
>>>
>>> # Basic dictionary
>>> dict_basic = {
...     "a": 1,
...     "b": 2,
...     "c": 3,
... }
>>>
>>> # Dictionary with iterables
>>> dict_iterables = {
...     "a": ["1", "2", "3"],
...     "b": [4, 5, 6],
...     "c": ("7", "8", "9"),
...     "d": (10, 11, 12),
... }
>>>
>>> # Dictionary with iterables and duplicates
>>> dict_iterables_with_duplicates = {
...     "a": [1, 2, 3],
...     "b": [4, 2, 5],
... }
>>>
>>> # Dictionary with sub-dictionaries
>>> dict_with_dicts = {
...     "a": {
...         "aa": 11,
...         "bb": 22,
...         "cc": 33,
...     },
...     "b": {
...         "dd": [1, 2, 3],
...         "ee": ("4", "5", "6"),
...     },
... }

>>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_basic))

Terminal

{
    "1": "a",
    "2": "b",
    "3": "c",
}

Conclusion: Successful conversion.

Notice here that the original values were type int, but here they have been converted to str. This is because dict keys should ideally only be str type.

>>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_iterables))

Terminal

{
    "1": "a",
    "2": "a",
    "3": "a",
    "4": "b",
    "5": "b",
    "6": "b",
    "7": "c",
    "8": "c",
    "9": "c",
    "10": "d",
    "11": "d",
    "12": "d",
}

Conclusion: Successful conversion.

Notice here how it has 'flattened' the iterables in the values in to individual keys, and assigned the original key to multiple keys. They keys have again been coerced to str type.

>>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_iterables_with_duplicates))

Terminal

KeyError: Key already existing.
Cannot update `output_dict` with new elements: {2: 'b'}
Because the key is already existing for: {'2': 'a'}
Full `output_dict` so far:
{'1': 'a', '2': 'a', '3': 'a', '4': 'b'}

Conclusion: Failed conversion.

Here, in the second element of the dictionary ("b"), there is a duplicate value 2 which is already existing in the first element of the dictionary ("a"). So, we would expect to see an error.
Remember, a Python dict object cannot contain duplicate keys. They must always be unique.

>>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_with_dicts))

Terminal

{
    "1": "a",
    "2": "a",
    "3": "a",
    "4": "b",
    "5": "b",
    "6": "b",
    "7": "c",
    "8": "c",
    "9": "c",
    "10": "d",
    "11": "d",
    "12": "d",
}

Conclusion: Successful conversion.

Here, the process would be to run a recursive process when it recognises that any value is a dict object. So long as there are no duplicate values in any of the contained dict's, the resulting output will be a big, flat dictionary.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

@typechecked
def dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dictionary: dict[Any, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Take the `key` and `values` of a dictionary, and reverse them.

    ???+ abstract "Details"
        This process is simple enough if the `values` are atomic types, like `#!py str`, `#!py int`, or `#!py float` types. But it is a little more tricky when the `values` are more complex types, like `#!py list` or `#!py dict`; here we need to use some recursion.

    Params:
        dictionary (Dict[Any, Any]):
            The input `#!py dict` that you'd like to have the `keys` and `values` switched.

    Raises:
        (TypeCheckError):
            If any of the inputs parsed to the parameters of this function are not the correct type. Uses the [`@typeguard.typechecked`](https://typeguard.readthedocs.io/en/stable/api.html#typeguard.typechecked) decorator.
        (KeyError):
            When there are duplicate `values` being coerced to `keys` in the new dictionary. Raised because a Python `#!py dict` cannot have duplicate keys of the same value.

    Returns:
        output_dict (Dict[str,Any]):
            The updated `#!py dict`.

    ???+ example "Examples"

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Set up"}
        >>> # Imports
        >>> from toolbox_python.dictionaries import dict_reverse_keys_and_values
        >>>
        >>> # Basic dictionary
        >>> dict_basic = {
        ...     "a": 1,
        ...     "b": 2,
        ...     "c": 3,
        ... }
        >>>
        >>> # Dictionary with iterables
        >>> dict_iterables = {
        ...     "a": ["1", "2", "3"],
        ...     "b": [4, 5, 6],
        ...     "c": ("7", "8", "9"),
        ...     "d": (10, 11, 12),
        ... }
        >>>
        >>> # Dictionary with iterables and duplicates
        >>> dict_iterables_with_duplicates = {
        ...     "a": [1, 2, 3],
        ...     "b": [4, 2, 5],
        ... }
        >>>
        >>> # Dictionary with sub-dictionaries
        >>> dict_with_dicts = {
        ...     "a": {
        ...         "aa": 11,
        ...         "bb": 22,
        ...         "cc": 33,
        ...     },
        ...     "b": {
        ...         "dd": [1, 2, 3],
        ...         "ee": ("4", "5", "6"),
        ...     },
        ... }
        ```

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 1: Reverse one-for-one"}
        >>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_basic))
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Terminal"}
        {
            "1": "a",
            "2": "b",
            "3": "c",
        }
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successful conversion."
        !!! observation "Notice here that the original values were type `#!py int`, but here they have been converted to `#!py str`. This is because `#!py dict` keys should ideally only be `#!py str` type."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 2: Reverse dictionary containing iterables in `values`"}
        >>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_iterables))
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Terminal"}
        {
            "1": "a",
            "2": "a",
            "3": "a",
            "4": "b",
            "5": "b",
            "6": "b",
            "7": "c",
            "8": "c",
            "9": "c",
            "10": "d",
            "11": "d",
            "12": "d",
        }
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successful conversion."
        !!! observation "Notice here how it has 'flattened' the iterables in the `values` in to individual keys, and assigned the original `key` to multiple keys. They keys have again been coerced to `#!py str` type."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 3: Dictionary with iterables, raise error when `key` already exists"}
        >>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_iterables_with_duplicates))
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Terminal"}
        KeyError: Key already existing.
        Cannot update `output_dict` with new elements: {2: 'b'}
        Because the key is already existing for: {'2': 'a'}
        Full `output_dict` so far:
        {'1': 'a', '2': 'a', '3': 'a', '4': 'b'}
        ```
        !!! failure "Conclusion: Failed conversion."
        !!! observation "Here, in the second element of the dictionary (`#!py "b"`), there is a duplicate value `#!py 2` which is already existing in the first element of the dictionary (`#!py "a"`). So, we would expect to see an error.<br>Remember, a Python `#!py dict` object _cannot_ contain duplicate keys. They must always be unique."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 4: Dictionary with embedded dictionaries"}
        >>> print(dict_reverse_keys_and_values(dict_with_dicts))
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Terminal"}
        {
            "1": "a",
            "2": "a",
            "3": "a",
            "4": "b",
            "5": "b",
            "6": "b",
            "7": "c",
            "8": "c",
            "9": "c",
            "10": "d",
            "11": "d",
            "12": "d",
        }
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successful conversion."
        !!! observation "Here, the process would be to run a recursive process when it recognises that any `value` is a `#!py dict` object. So long as there are no duplicate values in any of the contained `#!py dict`'s, the resulting output will be a big, flat dictionary."
        </div>
    """
    output_dict: dict[str, Any] = dict()
    for key, value in dictionary.items():
        if isinstance(value, (str, int, float)):
            output_dict[str(value)] = key
        elif isinstance(value, (tuple, list)):
            for elem in value:
                if str(elem) in output_dict.keys():
                    raise KeyError(
                        f"Key already existing.\n"
                        f"Cannot update `output_dict` with new elements: { {elem: key} }\n"
                        f"Because the key is already existing for: { {new_key: new_value for (new_key, new_value) in output_dict.items() if new_key==str(elem)} }\n"
                        f"Full `output_dict` so far:\n{output_dict}"
                    )
                output_dict[str(elem)] = key
        elif isinstance(value, dict):
            interim_dict: dict[str, Any] = dict_reverse_keys_and_values(value)
            output_dict = {
                **output_dict,
                **interim_dict,
            }
    return output_dict

DotDict

Bases: dict

Summary

Dictionary subclass that allows dot notation access to keys.

Details

Nested dictionaries are automatically converted to DotDict instances.

Examples

>>> # Imports
>>> from toolbox_python.dictionaries import DotDict
>>>
>>> # Create a DotDict
>>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": {"c": 2}})

>>> print(dot_dict.a)

Output

1

Conclusion: Successfully accessed value using dot notation.

>>> print(dot_dict.b.c)

Output

2

Conclusion: Successfully accessed nested value using dot notation.

>>> dot_dict.d = 3
>>> print(dot_dict.d)

Output

3

Conclusion: Successfully set value using dot notation.

>>> dot_dict.b.e = 4
>>> print(dot_dict.b.e)

Output

4

Conclusion: Successfully updated nested value using dot notation.

>>> regular_dict = dot_dict.to_dict()
>>> print(regular_dict)

Output

{'a': 1, 'b': {'c': 2, 'e': 4}, 'd': 3}

Conclusion: Successfully converted DotDict back to regular dict.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

class DotDict(dict):
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Dictionary subclass that allows dot notation access to keys.

    !!! abstract "Details"
        Nested dictionaries are automatically converted to DotDict instances.

    ???+ example "Examples"
        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Set up"}
        >>> # Imports
        >>> from toolbox_python.dictionaries import DotDict
        >>>
        >>> # Create a DotDict
        >>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": {"c": 2}})
        ```

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 1: Accessing values with dot notation"}
        >>> print(dot_dict.a)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        1
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully accessed value using dot notation."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 2: Accessing nested values with dot notation"}
        >>> print(dot_dict.b.c)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        2
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully accessed nested value using dot notation."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 3: Setting values with dot notation"}
        >>> dot_dict.d = 3
        >>> print(dot_dict.d)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        3
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully set value using dot notation."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 4: Updating nested values with dot notation"}
        >>> dot_dict.b.e = 4
        >>> print(dot_dict.b.e)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        4
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully updated nested value using dot notation."
        </div>

        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Example 5: Converting back to regular dict"}
        >>> regular_dict = dot_dict.to_dict()
        >>> print(regular_dict)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        {'a': 1, 'b': {'c': 2, 'e': 4}, 'd': 3}
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully converted DotDict back to regular dict."
        </div>
    """

    def __init__(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
        dict.__init__(self)
        d = dict(*args, **kwargs)
        for key, value in d.items():
            self[key] = self._convert_value(value)

    def _convert_value(self, value: Any):
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Convert dictionary values recursively.

        Params:
            value (Any):
                The value to convert.

        Returns:
            (Any):
                The converted value.
        """
        if isinstance(value, dict):
            return DotDict(value)
        elif isinstance(value, list):
            return list(self._convert_value(item) for item in value)
        elif isinstance(value, tuple):
            return tuple(self._convert_value(item) for item in value)
        elif isinstance(value, set):
            return {self._convert_value(item) for item in value}
        return value

    def __getattr__(self, key: str) -> Any:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Allow dictionary keys to be accessed as attributes.

        Params:
            key (str):
                The key to access.

        Raises:
            (AttributeError):
                If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

        Returns:
            (Any):
                The value associated with the key.
        """
        try:
            return self[key]
        except KeyError as e:
            raise AttributeError(f"Key not found: '{key}'") from e

    def __setattr__(self, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Allow setting dictionary keys via attributes.

        Params:
            key (str):
                The key to set.
            value (Any):
                The value to set.

        Returns:
            (None):
                This function does not return a value. It sets the key-value pair in the dictionary.
        """
        self[key] = value

    def __setitem__(self, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Intercept item setting to convert dictionaries.

        Params:
            key (str):
                The key to set.
            value (Any):
                The value to set.

        Returns:
            (None):
                This function does not return a value. It sets the key-value pair in the dictionary.
        """
        dict.__setitem__(self, key, self._convert_value(value))

    def __delitem__(self, key: str) -> None:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Intercept item deletion to remove keys.

        Params:
            key (str):
                The key to delete.

        Raises:
            (KeyError):
                If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

        Returns:
            (None):
                This function does not return a value. It deletes the key-value pair from the dictionary.
        """
        try:
            dict.__delitem__(self, key)
        except KeyError as e:
            raise KeyError(f"Key not found: '{key}'.") from e

    def __delattr__(self, key: str) -> None:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Allow deleting dictionary keys via attributes.

        Params:
            key (str):
                The key to delete.

        Raises:
            (AttributeError):
                If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

        Returns:
            (None):
                This function does not return a value. It deletes the key-value pair from the dictionary.
        """
        try:
            del self[key]
        except KeyError as e:
            raise AttributeError(f"Key not found: '{key}'") from e

    def update(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Override update to convert new values.

        Params:
            args (Any):
                Variable length argument list.
            kwargs (Any):
                Arbitrary keyword arguments.

        Returns:
            (None):
                This function does not return a value. It updates the dictionary with new key-value pairs.

        ???+ example "Examples"
            ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Update DotDict"}
            >>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": 2})
            >>> dot_dict.update({"c": 3, "d": {"e": 4}})
            >>> print(dot_dict)
            ```
            <div class="result" markdown>
            ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
            {'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3, 'd': {'e': 4}}
            ```
            !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully updated DotDict with new values."
            </div>
        """
        for k, v in dict(*args, **kwargs).items():
            self[k] = v

    def to_dict(self) -> Any:
        """
        !!! note "Summary"
            Convert back to regular dictionary.

        Returns:
            (Any):
                The original dictionary structure, with all nested `#!py DotDict` instances converted back to regular dictionaries.

        ???+ example "Examples"
            ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Convert DotDict to regular dict"}
            >>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": {"c": 2}})
            >>> regular_dict = dot_dict.to_dict()
            >>> print(regular_dict)
            ```
            <div class="result" markdown>
            ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
            {'a': 1, 'b': {'c': 2}}
            ```
            !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully converted DotDict back to regular dict."
            </div>
        """

        def _convert_back(obj) -> Any:
            if isinstance(obj, DotDict):
                return {k: _convert_back(v) for k, v in obj.items()}
            elif isinstance(obj, list):
                return list(_convert_back(item) for item in obj)
            elif isinstance(obj, tuple):
                return tuple(_convert_back(item) for item in obj)
            elif isinstance(obj, set):
                return {_convert_back(item) for item in obj}
            return obj

        return _convert_back(self)

__init__

__init__(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def __init__(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
    dict.__init__(self)
    d = dict(*args, **kwargs)
    for key, value in d.items():
        self[key] = self._convert_value(value)

__getattr__

__getattr__(key: str) -> Any

Summary

Allow dictionary keys to be accessed as attributes.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
key	str	The key to access.	required

Raises:

Type	Description
AttributeError	If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

Returns:

Type	Description
Any	The value associated with the key.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def __getattr__(self, key: str) -> Any:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Allow dictionary keys to be accessed as attributes.

    Params:
        key (str):
            The key to access.

    Raises:
        (AttributeError):
            If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

    Returns:
        (Any):
            The value associated with the key.
    """
    try:
        return self[key]
    except KeyError as e:
        raise AttributeError(f"Key not found: '{key}'") from e

__setattr__

__setattr__(key: str, value: Any) -> None

Summary

Allow setting dictionary keys via attributes.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
key	str	The key to set.	required
value	Any	The value to set.	required

Returns:

Type	Description
None	This function does not return a value. It sets the key-value pair in the dictionary.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def __setattr__(self, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Allow setting dictionary keys via attributes.

    Params:
        key (str):
            The key to set.
        value (Any):
            The value to set.

    Returns:
        (None):
            This function does not return a value. It sets the key-value pair in the dictionary.
    """
    self[key] = value

__setitem__

__setitem__(key: str, value: Any) -> None

Summary

Intercept item setting to convert dictionaries.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
key	str	The key to set.	required
value	Any	The value to set.	required

Returns:

Type	Description
None	This function does not return a value. It sets the key-value pair in the dictionary.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def __setitem__(self, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Intercept item setting to convert dictionaries.

    Params:
        key (str):
            The key to set.
        value (Any):
            The value to set.

    Returns:
        (None):
            This function does not return a value. It sets the key-value pair in the dictionary.
    """
    dict.__setitem__(self, key, self._convert_value(value))

__delitem__

__delitem__(key: str) -> None

Summary

Intercept item deletion to remove keys.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
key	str	The key to delete.	required

Raises:

Type	Description
KeyError	If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

Returns:

Type	Description
None	This function does not return a value. It deletes the key-value pair from the dictionary.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def __delitem__(self, key: str) -> None:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Intercept item deletion to remove keys.

    Params:
        key (str):
            The key to delete.

    Raises:
        (KeyError):
            If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

    Returns:
        (None):
            This function does not return a value. It deletes the key-value pair from the dictionary.
    """
    try:
        dict.__delitem__(self, key)
    except KeyError as e:
        raise KeyError(f"Key not found: '{key}'.") from e

__delattr__

__delattr__(key: str) -> None

Summary

Allow deleting dictionary keys via attributes.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
key	str	The key to delete.	required

Raises:

Type	Description
AttributeError	If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

Returns:

Type	Description
None	This function does not return a value. It deletes the key-value pair from the dictionary.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def __delattr__(self, key: str) -> None:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Allow deleting dictionary keys via attributes.

    Params:
        key (str):
            The key to delete.

    Raises:
        (AttributeError):
            If the key does not exist in the dictionary.

    Returns:
        (None):
            This function does not return a value. It deletes the key-value pair from the dictionary.
    """
    try:
        del self[key]
    except KeyError as e:
        raise AttributeError(f"Key not found: '{key}'") from e

update

update(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None

Summary

Override update to convert new values.

Parameters:

Name	Type	Description	Default
args	Any	Variable length argument list.	()
kwargs	Any	Arbitrary keyword arguments.	{}

Returns:

Type	Description
None	This function does not return a value. It updates the dictionary with new key-value pairs.

Examples

>>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": 2})
>>> dot_dict.update({"c": 3, "d": {"e": 4}})
>>> print(dot_dict)

Output

{'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3, 'd': {'e': 4}}

Conclusion: Successfully updated DotDict with new values.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def update(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Override update to convert new values.

    Params:
        args (Any):
            Variable length argument list.
        kwargs (Any):
            Arbitrary keyword arguments.

    Returns:
        (None):
            This function does not return a value. It updates the dictionary with new key-value pairs.

    ???+ example "Examples"
        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Update DotDict"}
        >>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": 2})
        >>> dot_dict.update({"c": 3, "d": {"e": 4}})
        >>> print(dot_dict)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        {'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3, 'd': {'e': 4}}
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully updated DotDict with new values."
        </div>
    """
    for k, v in dict(*args, **kwargs).items():
        self[k] = v

to_dict

to_dict() -> Any

Summary

Convert back to regular dictionary.

Returns:

Type	Description
Any	The original dictionary structure, with all nested DotDict instances converted back to regular dictionaries.

Examples

>>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": {"c": 2}})
>>> regular_dict = dot_dict.to_dict()
>>> print(regular_dict)

Output

{'a': 1, 'b': {'c': 2}}

Conclusion: Successfully converted DotDict back to regular dict.

Source code in src/toolbox_python/dictionaries.py

def to_dict(self) -> Any:
    """
    !!! note "Summary"
        Convert back to regular dictionary.

    Returns:
        (Any):
            The original dictionary structure, with all nested `#!py DotDict` instances converted back to regular dictionaries.

    ???+ example "Examples"
        ```pycon {.py .python linenums="1" title="Convert DotDict to regular dict"}
        >>> dot_dict = DotDict({"a": 1, "b": {"c": 2}})
        >>> regular_dict = dot_dict.to_dict()
        >>> print(regular_dict)
        ```
        <div class="result" markdown>
        ```{.sh .shell title="Output"}
        {'a': 1, 'b': {'c': 2}}
        ```
        !!! success "Conclusion: Successfully converted DotDict back to regular dict."
        </div>
    """

    def _convert_back(obj) -> Any:
        if isinstance(obj, DotDict):
            return {k: _convert_back(v) for k, v in obj.items()}
        elif isinstance(obj, list):
            return list(_convert_back(item) for item in obj)
        elif isinstance(obj, tuple):
            return tuple(_convert_back(item) for item in obj)
        elif isinstance(obj, set):
            return {_convert_back(item) for item in obj}
        return obj

    return _convert_back(self)