How to recursively search a Python dictionary for a key or list of keys. The function also searches inside tuples and lists in the dict. Also, a helper function to determine which keys are NOT present in the dictionary. Yes there are likely easier or cleaner ways to do this, but this works for me. :)

recursive_dict_key_search.py

def search_keys_recursive(dictionary, keys_to_find):
    """
    Recursively search for one or more keys within a dictionary (nested or one-level).

    Args:
        dictionary (dict): The dictionary to search.
        keys_to_find (str or list): The key or list of keys to search for.

    Returns:
        list: A list of keys found within the dictionary.
    """
    results = []

    def search_dict(d, key):
        # Recursively search a dictionary for a key
        for k, v in d.items():
            if k == key:
                results.append(k)  # Add the key to results
            if isinstance(v, (dict, list, tuple)):
                search(v, key)

    def search_list(lst, key):
        # Recursively search a list for a key
        for item in lst:
            if isinstance(item, (dict, list, tuple)):
                search(item, key)

    def search(data, key):
        # Start search based on data type (dict, list, or tuple)
        if isinstance(data, dict):
            search_dict(data, key)
        elif isinstance(data, list):
            search_list(data, key)
        elif isinstance(data, tuple):
            for item in data:
                if isinstance(item, (dict, list, tuple)):
                    search(item, key)

    if isinstance(keys_to_find, str):
        # Convert a single key to a list for consistent processing
        keys_to_find = [keys_to_find]

    for key in keys_to_find:
        search(dictionary, key)

    return results


def find_missing_keys(dictionary, keys_to_find):
    """
    Find keys that are NOT present in a dictionary (nested or one-level).

    Args:
        dictionary (dict): The dictionary to search.
        keys_to_find (str or list): The key or list of keys to search for.

    Returns:
        list: A list of missing keys not found in the dictionary.
    """
    if isinstance(keys_to_find, str):
        # Convert a single key to a list for consistent processing
        keys_to_find = [keys_to_find]

    found_keys = search_keys_recursive(dictionary, keys_to_find)
    missing_keys = [key for key in keys_to_find if key not in found_keys]

    # Return a list of missing keys
    return missing_keys


# Example dict to search
data = {
    'a': 42,
    'b': {
        'ba': 23,
        'bb': {
            'bba': '420'
        }
    },
    'c': [
        {
            'f': 'test',
            'k': [
                (
                    [
                        {
                            'm': 'testm'
                        }
                    ]
                )
            ]
        },
        {
            'g': 'test'
        }
    ],
    'd': (
        {
            'h': 'testh'
        },
        [
            {
                'i': 'testi'
            }
        ]
    )
}

# List of keys to search for. Note that x and y are not in the dict
keys_to_find = ['a', 'ba', 'g', 'h', 'm', 'x', 'y']

found_keys = search_keys_recursive(data, keys_to_find)
print("Found keys:", found_keys)
# Found keys: ['a', 'ba', 'g', 'h', 'm']

missing_keys = find_missing_keys(data, keys_to_find)
print("Missing keys:", missing_keys)
# Missing keys: ['x', 'y']