Raw data mode

By default, Valaw converts API responses into typed Python objects using dataclass-wizard. This gives you attribute access, IDE autocomplete, and type safety. If you’d rather work with plain dictionaries — for example, to forward the response directly to another service — you can enable raw data mode.

Enabling raw data mode

Pass raw_data=True when initializing the client:

import valaw

client = valaw.Client("YOUR_TOKEN", "americas", raw_data=True)

Typed vs raw

Typed (default):

import valaw
import asyncio

async def main():
    client = valaw.Client("YOUR_TOKEN", "americas")
    try:
        account = await client.GET_getByRiotId("PlayerName", "NA1")
        print(account.gameName)  # attribute access, IDE autocomplete works
        print(account.tagLine)
    finally:
        await client.close()

asyncio.run(main())

Raw:

import valaw
import asyncio

async def main():
    client = valaw.Client("YOUR_TOKEN", "americas", raw_data=True)
    try:
        account = await client.GET_getByRiotId("PlayerName", "NA1")
        print(account["gameName"])  # dictionary access
        print(account["tagLine"])
    finally:
        await client.close()

asyncio.run(main())

When to use raw mode

Use raw mode when:

You’re forwarding the response directly to another service or API
You want the exact JSON structure as Riot returns it
You’re debugging and want to inspect the raw response

Use typed mode (default) when:

You want IDE autocomplete and type checking
You’re building an application that works with the data

Error handling

Error handling works the same in both modes — RiotAPIResponseError is raised regardless.

import valaw

async def main():
    client = valaw.Client("YOUR_TOKEN", "americas", raw_data=True)
    try:
        account = await client.GET_getByRiotId("PlayerName", "NA1")
    except valaw.Exceptions.RiotAPIResponseError as e:
        print(f"Error: {e.status_code} - {e.status_message}")
    finally:
        await client.close()

Serializing to JSON

Raw mode is useful when you want to save the API response directly:

import valaw
import asyncio
import json

async def main():
    client = valaw.Client("YOUR_TOKEN", "americas", raw_data=True)
    try:
        match = await client.GET_getMatch("match-id", "na")
        with open("match.json", "w") as f:
            json.dump(match, f, indent=2)
    finally:
        await client.close()

asyncio.run(main())

Get Started

Guides

Examples

Raw data mode

Enabling raw data mode

Typed vs raw

When to use raw mode

Error handling

Serializing to JSON

​Enabling raw data mode

​Typed vs raw

​When to use raw mode

​Error handling

​Serializing to JSON

Enabling raw data mode

Typed vs raw

When to use raw mode

Error handling

Serializing to JSON