python / python/mypy

dict with literal keys cannot be unpacked into a dict with str keys

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bug
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Python
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Description

Bug Report

A dict that is typed with literal keys cannot be unpacked into a dict with string keys.

To Reproduce

https://mypy-play.net/?mypy=latest&python=3.13&gist=f150b9f1c64eba97cb0496a6a5d7a2b6

from typing import Literal

data: dict[Literal["foo"], str] = {"foo": "bar"}


def foo() -> dict[str, str]:
    return {**data}

Expected Behavior

The code should type check. It works fine in Pyright.

Actual Behavior

error: Unpacked dict entry 0 has incompatible type "dict[Literal['foo'], str]"; expected "SupportsKeysAndGetItem[str, str]"  [dict-item]

Your Environment

  • Mypy version used: 1.18.2
  • Python version used: 3.13

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the linked mypy-play reproducer and the reported dict-unpacking diagnostic, then trace the type-checking path responsible for validating unpacked dictionary keys. Done means the example type-checks without the incompatible-type error while preserving correct diagnostics for genuinely incompatible keys.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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