how to merge two maps using python

Question

Fairly new to python so this may seem noobish. I have created two basic maps in .line format (new to me), each showing different features using matplotlib. These maps were converted from separate shapefiles. Now I need to merge these two .line maps into one.

Any ideas would be highly appreciated. TY.

Answer 1

In Python 3.5 or greater:

z = {**x, **y}

In Python 2, (or 3.4 or lower) write a function:

def merge_two_dicts(x, y):
    z = x.copy()   # start with x's keys and values
    z.update(y)    # modifies z with y's keys and values & returns None
    return z

z = merge_two_dicts(x, y)

Answer 2

By 'maps', I assume you mean what are called mappings in Python. The most common example is a dict.

In recent versions of Python (not sure starting when, but more recent than the 3.4 in the other answer), this will work:

z = x | y

The result will be a new mapping, z, which will contain all the elements of x and y, with y winning where there are any duplicates.