title: lookup
---
type: method
---
signature: key
---
summary: Looks up data from databags.
---
body:

This is the most common way to look up values from databags from regular
Python code.  Within templates you can also use the [bag
:ref](../../templates/globals/bag/) function which is easier to call.

The key is in dotted notation.  For more information about this refer
to the main [databags :ref](../) documentation.

## Example

```python
def translate(pad, alt, key):
    return pad.databags.lookup('i18n.%s.%s' % (alt, key), key)
```