Convert Index to Column of pandas DataFrame in Python (Example)

In this Python programming tutorial you’ll learn how to add the index of a pandas DataFrame as a new variable.

The content looks as follows:

Let’s dive right into the example!

Example Data & Add-On Libraries

First, we need to import the pandas library:

import pandas as pd                                    # Load pandas library

We’ll use the following data as basement for this Python programming tutorial:

data = pd.DataFrame({'x1':['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'],  # Create example DataFrame
                     'x2':range(5, 0, - 1),
                     'x3':[3, 3, 3, 3, 3],
                     'x4':range(1, 6)})
print(data)                                           # Print example DataFrame

Table 1 shows the structure of the exemplifying data – It has five rows and four columns.

Example: Add Index as Column to pandas DataFrame

The following Python programming syntax illustrates how to convert the indices of a pandas DataFrame to a new column of this DataFrame.

For this, we can use the index attribute as shown in the following Python code:

data_new = data.copy()                                # Duplicate DataFrame
data_new['index'] = data_new.index                    # Convert index to variable
print(data_new)                                       # Print updated DataFrame

As shown in Table 2, the previous Python programming syntax has managed to create a new pandas DataFrame called data_new, which contains the index of the input data as an additional variable.

Video & Further Resources

Please have a look at Corey Schafer’s video, in case you want to learn more about the handling of indices in Python. You can find the video below.

In addition, you may want to have a look at the other articles on this website:

• Get Index of Column in pandas DataFrame
• Select Rows of pandas DataFrame by Index
• Insert Column at Specific Position of pandas DataFrame
• Rename Index of pandas DataFrame
• Manipulate pandas DataFrames in Python
• Handling DataFrames Using the pandas Library in Python
• Introduction to Python

In this tutorial you have learned how to add the index of a pandas DataFrame as a new column in the Python programming language. Tell me about it in the comments section, in case you have further questions.