python 25 lines · 6 steps

How a recursive deep merge works in Python

Combine nested dictionaries by recursing into shared keys while copying values so the inputs stay untouched.

Explained by highlit

Intermediate recursion immutability dictionaries configuration deep-copy

1from copy import deepcopy
2from typing import Any, Mapping
3 
4 
5def deep_merge(base: Mapping[str, Any], override: Mapping[str, Any]) -> dict:
6    result = deepcopy(dict(base))
7 
8    for key, override_value in override.items():
9        base_value = result.get(key)
10 
11        if isinstance(base_value, Mapping) and isinstance(override_value, Mapping):
12            result[key] = deep_merge(base_value, override_value)
13        elif isinstance(base_value, list) and isinstance(override_value, list):
14            result[key] = base_value + deepcopy(override_value)
15        else:
16            result[key] = deepcopy(override_value)
17 
18    return result
19 
20 
21def merge_configs(*configs: Mapping[str, Any]) -> dict:
22    merged: dict = {}
23    for config in configs:
24        merged = deep_merge(merged, config)
25    return merged

01 / 01

STEP 01

Walkthrough

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Three takeaways

1Recursing on matching Mapping keys lets you merge arbitrarily nested structures without hand-writing each level.
2Deep-copying values keeps the original inputs immutable, avoiding shared-reference bugs across merges.
3Folding a merge over a sequence turns a two-argument combiner into a variadic one with a clear precedence order.

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