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Explanation of the syntax `df[&#column&#] = expression` in pandas

Patricia Arquette
Patricia ArquetteOriginal
2025-01-10 09:13:46132browse

Explanation of the syntax `df[

Pandas df['column'] = expression Syntax Detailed Explanation: Used to create, modify or assign columns in Pandas DataFrame (df). Let’s break it down step by step, from basic to advanced.


Basics

1. Create new column

  • When a column does not exist in the DataFrame, assigning a value to df['column'] creates a new column.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  import pandas as pd
      df = pd.DataFrame({'A': [1, 2, 3]})
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A
      # 0  1
      # 1  2
      # 2  3
    
      # 创建一个新列 'B',所有值都设置为 0
      df['B'] = 0
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B
      # 0  1  0
      # 1  2  0
      # 2  3  0</code>

2. Modify existing columns

  • If the column already exists, assignment replaces its contents.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df['B'] = [4, 5, 6]  # 替换列 'B' 中的值
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B
      # 0  1  4
      # 1  2  5
      # 2  3  6</code>

Intermediate level

3. Expression-based assignment

  • Can assign values ​​to columns based on calculations or transformations.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df['C'] = df['A'] + df['B']  # 创建列 'C' 为 'A' 和 'B' 的和
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C
      # 0  1  4   5
      # 1  2  5   7
      # 2  3  6   9</code>

4. Use conditional assignment

  • You can use Pandas’ boolean indexing for conditional assignment.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df['D'] = df['A'].apply(lambda x: 'Even' if x % 2 == 0 else 'Odd')
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd
      # 1  2  5   7  Even
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd</code>

5. Use multiple columns in expressions

  • You can use multiple columns in one expression for more complex calculations.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df['E'] = (df['A'] + df['B']) * df['C']
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81</code>

Advanced Chapter

6. Vectorization operation

  • Numerical assignments can use vectorization operations to improve performance.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df['F'] = df['A'] ** 2 + df['B'] ** 2  # 快速向量化计算
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E   F
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25  17
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49  29
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81  45</code>

7. Use np.where for conditional logical assignment

  • You can use NumPy for conditional assignment.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  import numpy as np
      df['G'] = np.where(df['A'] > 2, 'High', 'Low')
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E   F     G
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25  17   Low
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49  29   Low
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81  45  High</code>

8. Use external functions to assign values

  • Assign values ​​to columns based on a custom function applied to the row or column.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  def custom_function(row):
          return row['A'] * row['B']
    
      df['H'] = df.apply(custom_function, axis=1)
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E   F     G   H
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25  17   Low   4
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49  29   Low  10
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81  45  High  18</code>

9. Chain operation

  • Multiple operations can be chained together to make the code more concise.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df['I'] = df['A'].add(df['B']).mul(df['C'])
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E   F     G   H    I
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25  17   Low   4   25
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49  29   Low  10   49
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81  45  High  18   81</code>

10. Assign multiple columns at one time

  • Use assign() to create or modify multiple columns in one call.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  df = df.assign(
          J=df['A'] + df['B'],
          K=lambda x: x['J'] * 2
      )
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E   F     G   H    I   J   K
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25  17   Low   4   25   5  10
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49  29   Low  10   49   7  14
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81  45  High  18   81   9  18</code>

Experts

11. Dynamic column assignment

  • Dynamically create column names based on external input.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  columns_to_add = ['L', 'M']
      for col in columns_to_add:
          df[col] = df['A'] + df['B']
      print(df)</code>

12. Use external data assignment

  • Assign values ​​to columns based on an external DataFrame or dictionary.

  • Example:

    <code class="language-python">  mapping = {1: 'Low', 2: 'Medium', 3: 'High'}
      df['N'] = df['A'].map(mapping)
      print(df)
      # 输出:
      #    A  B   C     D    E   F     G   H    I   J   K      N
      # 0  1  4   5   Odd   25  17   Low   4   25   5  10    Low
      # 1  2  5   7  Even   49  29   Low  10   49   7  14  Medium
      # 2  3  6   9   Odd   81  45  High  18   81   9  18   High</code>

13. Performance optimization:

  • When assigning values, using Pandas’ built-in functions (apply, vectorized operations) has better performance than Python loops.

Summary

df['column'] = expression Syntax is the core feature of Pandas and has a wide range of uses. It allows:

  • Add, modify, and manipulate columns in a DataFrame.
  • Perform complex calculations, including condition-based logic and multi-column transformations.
  • Chain operations and dynamically generate new columns.

This makes Pandas a powerful data manipulation and analysis library.

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