<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def merge_data(path_data, request_data):
 """ Merge data from the URI path and the request. Path data wins. """

    merged = request_data.copy() if request_data else {}
    merged.update(path_data or {})
    return merged