> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.atfinity.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.atfinity.io/rule-language/operators/dictionary-operators/to_dict.md).

# to\_dict

{% hint style="info" %}
**New in Atfinity 17.**
{% endhint %}

### Description

`to_dict` builds a dictionary from selected attributes of an [instance](/guides/glossary/instance.md). The argument is a dictionary literal whose keys are the attribute names to read from the instance.

For each entry:

* If only an attribute name is given (using the [dictionary shorthand](/rule-language/operators/dictionary-operators/shorthand.md), e.g. `first_name`), the resulting dictionary uses the attribute name itself as the key.
* If a value is given (e.g. `first_name: 'givenName'`), that value is used as the key in the resulting dictionary.

Attributes whose value is `unknown` (i.e. not set on the instance) are skipped and do not appear in the resulting dictionary.

### Examples

```
p is Person
p.to_dict({first_name, last_name})
// => {'first_name': 'Thorben', 'last_name': 'Croisé'}
```

Renaming all keys:

```
p is Person
p.to_dict({first_name: 'givenName', last_name: 'familyName'})
// => {'givenName': 'Thorben', 'familyName': 'Croisé'}
```

Mixing shorthand and explicit renames:

```
p is Person
p.to_dict({first_name, last_name: 'familyName'})
// => {'first_name': 'Thorben', 'familyName': 'Croisé'}
```

To narrow down or rename keys of an existing dictionary (rather than building one from an instance), use [`pick`](/rule-language/operators/dictionary-operators/pick.md).


---

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