Is it a good idea to store functions in a dictionary in Python?

Totally valid approach! But actually, if your goal is just to run functions in sequence, you might want to consider using a list instead. It's generally more efficient for that kind of task. Just think about what you really need!

The dictionary shines when you need to look up functions dynamically based on user input or specific events.

You're actually storing references to the functions, which is totally fine! If you're just iterating over functions, a list might be a quicker choice for iteration. But if you need to match user input to specific functions, a dictionary works great! Just remember, you can access items directly without looping if that’s all you need.

Using a dictionary for mapping inputs to functions is referred to as a "dispatch table". This pattern is beneficial when you need those keys for user commands or event handling. However, if you're merely executing a series of functions without needing that mapping, a plain list might be simpler and faster for that purpose.

Storing functions in a dictionary is definitely not a bad practice; in fact, it's a pretty common and useful technique. Python treats functions as first-class objects, which means you can store them as values just like any other data type. This is great for scenarios like a calculator app, where each operation corresponds to a different function. Just remember, you're storing a reference to the function in the dictionary, not the function itself, and that's perfectly normal! For example, you can have a command dispatch like this:

```python
commands = {
"start": start_game,
"quit": quit_game,
"help": show_help,
}

action = commands.get(user_input)
if action:
action() # Call the function
```
It's cleaner and easier to manage compared to long 'if' statements. Just watch out for the function signatures to ensure they match if you're calling them in the same way! Give it a try!