title: How to append to Python list in a dict without having to initialize the list?
body: <p>In PHP, I can do this</p>
  
  <pre><code>$a['name'][] = 'el1';
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In Python, I have to do this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>a = {}
  a['name'] = []
  a['name'].append('el1')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The problem with the above approach is that I'm losing the value of <code>a['name']</code> in the next loop when iterating because I'm reinitializing <code>a['name']</code> to an empty list .</p>
  
  <p>Is there any way to append items to a list without having to initialize with an empty list first?</p>