Convert Dictionary to String, vice versa?

[Kjetil Torgrim Homme]

[Byron]:
>
>   I am a newbie and would like to know if it is possible to convert
>   a string back to a dictionary?
>   
>   For example, I can convert a dictionary to a string by doing this:
>   
>   	>>> names = {"Candy" : 2.95, "Popcorn" : 4.95}
>   	>>> strNames = str(names)
>   	>>> print strNames
>   	{'Popcorn': 4.9500000000000002, 'Candy': 2.9500000000000002}
>   
>   However,  is there a way to convert a string back to a dictionary?
>   
>   Any help is very much appreciated!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned pickle.

>>> import pickle
>>> names = {"Candy" : 2.95, "Popcorn" : 4.95}
>>> pickle.dumps(names)
"(dp0\nS'Popcorn'\np1\nF4.9500000000000002\nsS'Candy'\np2\nF2.9500000000000002\ns."
>>> pickle.loads(pickle.dumps(names))
{'Popcorn': 4.9500000000000002, 'Candy': 2.9500000000000002}


-- 
Kjetil T.