Set Index of pandas DataFrame in Python (Example)
In this Python programming article you’ll learn how to add a column of a pandas DataFrame as an index.
Table of contents:
Let’s take a look at some Python codes in action.
Example Data & Libraries
If we want to use the functions of the pandas library, we first have to load pandas to Python:
import pandas as pd # Load pandas library
The following data is used as a basis for this Python tutorial:
data = pd.DataFrame({'x1':range(10, 15), # Create pandas DataFrame 'x2':['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'], 'x3':range(10, 5, - 1)}) print(data) # Print pandas DataFrame
Table 1 shows that our exemplifying data contains five rows and three columns. The index ranges from the value 0 to the number of rows in our data set.
Example: Set Column as pandas DataFrame Index Using set_index() Function
In this example, I’ll illustrate how to use a column of a pandas DataFrame as an index in Python.
To achieve this, we have to apply the set_index function as shown below:
data_new = data.set_index('x2') # Apply set_index function print(data_new) # Print updated DataFrame
The output of the previous Python programming syntax is shown in Table 2 – A new pandas DataFrame where the column x2 has been added as the index.
Video & Further Resources
If you need further information on the Python code of this tutorial, I recommend having a look at the following video on my YouTube channel. I illustrate the Python code of the present tutorial in the video.
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Besides that, you may want to have a look at the related tutorials on my website:
- Get Max & Min Value of Column & Index in pandas DataFrame in Python
- Convert Index to Column of pandas DataFrame in Python
- Select Rows of pandas DataFrame by Index in Python
- Rename Index of pandas DataFrame in Python in R
- Get Index of Column in pandas DataFrame in Python
- pandas Library Tutorial in Python
- Introduction to Python Programming
You have learned in this tutorial how to use and add a column of a pandas DataFrame as an index in the Python programming language. Please let me know in the comments section, in case you have any further questions.