Figures.get('e', 0) tells python to search for the key 'e' inside the dictionary. If it's actually not found it returns 0. Given that This can be the first time 'e' is handed through the loop, the character 'e' is just not located in the dictionary nonetheless, Hence the get method https://zionuvnia.blogofchange.com/37068335/the-5-second-trick-for-psychedelia