# How to iterate over Python dictionaries using 'for' loops?

Let’s assume the following dictionary:

```python
my_dictionary = {
    'key1': 'value1',
    'key2': 'value2',
    'key3': 'value3'
}
```

There are three main ways you can iterate over the dictionary.

## Iterate over keys

If you iterate over a dictionary the same way you are iterating over a list, you will notice, that you are iterating over dictionary keys:

```python
for k in my_dictionary:
    print(k)
```

```python
key1
key2
key3
```

This is basically the same as using the `my_dictionary.keys()` as the iterable in the for loop.

You can always use the k to access the value:

```python
for k in my_dictionary.keys():
    print(my_dictionary[k])
```

```
value1
value2
value3
```

## Iterate over values

If you want to iterate over dictionary values instead of dictionary keys, you can use the `my_dictionary.values()` as iterable in the for loop:

```python
for v in my_dictionary.values():
    print(v)
```

```
value1
value2
value3
```

## Iterate over both keys and values

To iterate over both keys and values, you can use the following syntax:

```python
for k, v in my_dictionary.items():
    print(k + ': ' + v)
```

```
key1: value1
key2: value2
key3: value3
```