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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.

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Enabling raw data mode

Pass raw_data=True when initializing the client: 
import valaw

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

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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())

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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

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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()

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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())