Last modified: Mar 06, 2025 By Alexander Williams

Fix Python NameError: Name 'OrderedDict' Not Defined

If you've encountered the NameError: Name 'OrderedDict' Not Defined in Python, don't worry. This error is common and easy to fix. Let's dive into the causes and solutions.

What Causes the NameError?

The NameError occurs when Python cannot find a name in your code. In this case, it can't find OrderedDict. This usually happens because you forgot to import it.

OrderedDict is part of the collections module. If you try to use it without importing, Python will raise this error.

How to Fix the Error

To fix the error, you need to import OrderedDict from the collections module. Here's how you can do it:


from collections import OrderedDict

# Example usage
my_dict = OrderedDict()
my_dict['a'] = 1
my_dict['b'] = 2
print(my_dict)

This code imports OrderedDict and uses it to create an ordered dictionary. The output will be:


OrderedDict([('a', 1), ('b', 2)])

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake is misspelling OrderedDict. Make sure you spell it correctly. Another mistake is forgetting to import it.

If you encounter similar errors like NameError: Name 'UUID' Not Defined or NameError: Name 'Decimal' Not Defined, the solution is similar. Always check if you've imported the required module.

Conclusion

The NameError: Name 'OrderedDict' Not Defined is easy to fix. Just import OrderedDict from the collections module. Avoid common mistakes like misspelling or forgetting to import.

For more tips on fixing Python errors, check out our guides on NameError: Name 'ElementTree' Not Defined and other common issues.