What’s the difference between dict() and {}?

>>> def f():
...     return {'a' : 1, 'b' : 2}
... 
>>> def g():
...     return dict(a=1, b=2)
... 
>>> g()
{'a': 1, 'b': 2}
>>> f()
{'a': 1, 'b': 2}
>>> import dis
>>> dis.dis(f)
  2           0 BUILD_MAP                0
              3 DUP_TOP             
              4 LOAD_CONST               1 ('a')
              7 LOAD_CONST               2 (1)
             10 ROT_THREE           
             11 STORE_SUBSCR        
             12 DUP_TOP             
             13 LOAD_CONST               3 ('b')
             16 LOAD_CONST               4 (2)
             19 ROT_THREE           
             20 STORE_SUBSCR        
             21 RETURN_VALUE        
>>> dis.dis(g)
  2           0 LOAD_GLOBAL              0 (dict)
              3 LOAD_CONST               1 ('a')
              6 LOAD_CONST               2 (1)
              9 LOAD_CONST               3 ('b')
             12 LOAD_CONST               4 (2)
             15 CALL_FUNCTION          512
             18 RETURN_VALUE        

dict() is apparently some C built-in. A really smart or dedicated person (not me) could look at the interpreter source and tell you more. I just wanted to show off dis.dis. 🙂