DictionaryuniqueKeysWithValues

Dictionaryuniq (often styled dictionaryuniq or dictionary-uniq) is a concept in computer science that refers to mechanisms for ensuring that a dictionary-like collection stores only unique entries according to defined criteria. It can describe data structures, libraries, or algorithms that enforce uniqueness of keys, values, or combined key-value pairs within a mapping.

In computer science, a dictionary maps keys to values. Dictionaryuniq extends this by incorporating constraints that prevent duplicate mappings. This can include enforcing unique keys, unique values, or unique key-value pairs within a collection.

Implementation approaches vary. One common method is to maintain an auxiliary set that tracks seen keys or values; when adding a new entry, the system checks the set and rejects or merges duplicates accordingly. Other approaches use canonicalization, normalization (for example, case folding), or de-duplication passes across input data. Some implementations preserve insertion order, while others optimize for memory or speed.

Applications include data cleaning, ETL pipelines, configuration management, and input validation where duplicates are invalid or costly. In relational-like usage, dictionaryuniq can resemble a unique constraint on a key column or a rule for unique key-value pairs.

Performance considerations: average-case time for insertions is typically O(1) with hash-based implementations, but extra memory is required for auxiliary structures. In distributed systems, achieving global uniqueness may require coordination or consensus.

See also: dictionary, set, deduplication, unique constraint, normalization.