Convert empty dictionary to empty string

Question

>>> d = {}
>>> s = str(d)
>>> print s
{}

I need an empty string instead.

Answer 1

You can do it with the shortest way as below, since the empty dictionary is False, and do it through Boolean Operators.

>>> d = {}
>>> str(d or '')
''

Or without str

>>> d = {}
>>> d or ''
''

If d is not an empty dictionary, convert it to string with str()

>>> d['f'] = 12
>>> str(d or '')
"{'f': 12}"

Answer 2

An empty dict object is False when you try to convert it to a bool object. But if there's something in it, it would be True. Like empty list, empty string, empty set, and other objects:

>>> d = {}
>>> d
{}
>>> bool(d)
False
>>> d['foo'] = 'bar' 
>>> bool(d)
True

So it's simple:

>>> s = str(d) if d else ''
>>> s
"{'foo': 'bar'}"
>>> d = {}
>>> s = str(d) if d else ''
>>> s
''

Or just if not d: s = '' if you don't need s be string of the dict when there's something in the dict.