# \`itemgetter\` split into 2 objects

**URL:** <https://discuss.python.org/t/itemgetter-split-into-2-objects/69020>\
**Category:** Ideas\
**Created:** [October 24, 2024, 6:31am UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/itemgetter-split-into-2-objects/69020 "2024-10-24T06:31:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 27

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**Author:** ![dg-pb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/dg-pb/32/16248_2.png) [@dg-pb](https://discuss.python.org/u/dg-pb)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 9:54am UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/itemgetter-split-into-2-objects/69020/27 "2024-11-04T09:54:46Z")

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I am thinking maybe it would be better to leave `dict` out of initial implementation?

Internal storage of `defaults` can not be `dict` due to hash-ability restriction, thus it will inevitably have to be `tuple`.

Of course there is an option to branch the code depending on `defaults` input. s.t.:

```python
getobj = itemtuplegetter(..., defaults={'a': 1})
print(getobj.defaults) # {'a': 1}
getobj = itemtuplegetter(..., defaults=(1,))
print(getobj.defaults) # (1,)

```

But this IMO is making a bit of a mess. I.e. One has to choose between (hash-ability + performance) and (order independence). (performance, because ` __getitem__ ` of `dict` is expensive, while `tuple` access is pretty much free in C).

So I am thinking maybe better not to bother with `dict` for a start.  
And give it some time to come up with solution that does not force user to make unnecessary choices.

So in short, I would suggest `itemtuplegetter(items: Iterable, defaults: Iterable)` to start with.  
To me it seems to offer maximum functionality without needing to make premature choices and risking of getting stuck with them.

It could already do quite a lot:

```python
# Arguments with defaults (by reversing order)
sys_argv = [<PATH>, 1, 2]
arg_getter = itemtuplegetter([3, 2, 1], ['c', 'b'])
c, b, a = arg_getter(sys_argv)
print((a, b, c)) # 1, 2, 'c'

```

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