Convert pandas DataFrame to List in Python (3 Examples)

This article illustrates how to convert values in a pandas DataFrame to a list object in the Python programming language.

The content is structured as follows:

Let’s start right away:

Example Data & Software Libraries

We first need to import the pandas library to Python, if we want to use the functions that are contained in the library:

import pandas as pd                         # Import pandas

The pandas DataFrame below will be used as a basis for this Python tutorial:

data = pd.DataFrame({'x1':range(10, 17),    # Create pandas DataFrame
                     'x2':range(7, 0, - 1),
                     'x3':range(23, 30)})
print(data)                                 # Print pandas DataFrame

Have a look at the table that has been returned after executing the previously shown Python syntax. It shows that our exemplifying data contains seven rows and three columns.

Example 1: Extract pandas DataFrame Column as List

In Example 1, I’ll demonstrate how to convert a specific column of a pandas DataFrame to a list object in Python.

For this task, we can use the tolist function as shown below:

list1 = data['x1'].tolist()                 # Select column
print(list1)                                # Print list
# [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]

Have a look at the previous console output: It shows that we have created a new list object containing the elements of the first column x1.

Example 2: Extract pandas DataFrame Row as List

In this example, I’ll show how to select a certain row of a pandas DataFrame and transform it to a list object.

This time, we have to extract the values using the .loc attribute. These values can then be converted to a list object using the tolist function:

list2 = data.loc[[0]].values.tolist()       # Select row
print(list2)                                # Print list
# [[10, 7, 23]]

Example 3: Convert Entire pandas DataFrame to List

In this example, I’ll demonstrate how to convert all elements in the rows and columns of a pandas DataFrame to a list object.

For this, we have to use the .values attribute and the tolist function as shown below:

list3 = data.values.tolist()                # Convert all values
print(list3)                                # Print list
# [[10, 7, 23], [11, 6, 24], [12, 5, 25], [13, 4, 26], [14, 3, 27], [15, 2, 28], [16, 1, 29]]

Video & Further Resources

Do you need more info on the Python programming syntax of this tutorial? Then you could have a look at the following video on my YouTube channel. I’m explaining the topics of this tutorial in the video.

In addition, you could have a look at some of the related tutorials on my website. You can find a selection of articles that are related to the transformation of values in a pandas DataFrame to a list object below:

• Handling DataFrames Using the pandas Library in Python
• Convert List to pandas DataFrame in Python
• Convert Index to Column of pandas DataFrame in Python
• Convert pandas DataFrame Column to datetime in Python
• Get pandas DataFrame Column as List in Python
• Convert pandas DataFrame to NumPy Array in Python
• Get Column Names of pandas DataFrame as List in Python
• Convert pandas DataFrame Index to List & NumPy Array in Python
• Python Programming Tutorials

In summary: At this point of the tutorial you should have learned how to convert a pandas DataFrame to a list object in the Python programming language. Please let me know in the comments, in case you have further questions.