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How to Split A Column In Pandas?

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To split a column in pandas, you can use the str.split() method to split the values in a column based on a specified delimiter. This will create a new column with a list of strings that result from the split. You can then use the expand=True parameter to expand the list of strings into separate columns. Alternatively, you can use the str.extract() method to extract specific patterns from the values in a column and create new columns with the extracted values. Both of these methods are useful for splitting a column into multiple columns based on certain criteria.

What is the syntax for splitting a column in pandas?

df['new_column_name'] = df['old_column_name'].str.split("delimiter", expand=True)

This will split the values in the "old_column_name" on the specified delimiter and create new columns with the result.

How to split a column in pandas and keep the original column intact?

You can use the str.split() method in pandas to split a column into multiple columns while keeping the original column intact. Here is an example code snippet to demonstrate this:

import pandas as pd

Sample data

data = {'full_name': ['John Doe', 'Jane Smith', 'Alice Johnson']} df = pd.DataFrame(data)

Split the 'full_name' column into 'first_name' and 'last_name' columns

df[['first_name', 'last_name']] = df['full_name'].str.split(' ', 1, expand=True)

Print the original and new columns

print(df)

In this example, the str.split() method is used to split the 'full_name' column in the DataFrame into 'first_name' and 'last_name' columns. The expand=True argument ensures that the result is returned as separate columns. The original 'full_name' column remains intact in the DataFrame.

Output:

   full\_name first\_name last\_name

0 John Doe John Doe 1 Jane Smith Jane Smith 2 Alice Johnson Alice Johnson

What is the difference between str.split() and split() in pandas?

In Python, str.split() is a method that can be used on a string to split it into a list of substrings based on a specified delimiter. It is a method of the string class.

On the other hand, split() in pandas is a method that can be used on a pandas Series or DataFrame to split each element of the Series or DataFrame into multiple elements based on a specified delimiter. It is a method of the pandas library.

In summary, str.split() is used to split a single string into a list of substrings, while split() in pandas is used to split multiple strings in a pandas Series or DataFrame into multiple elements.

What is the role of the expand parameter in the split operation in pandas?

The expand parameter determines whether the result of the split operation in pandas will be returned as a Series or DataFrame.

  • If expand=True, then the result will be returned as a DataFrame with each part of the split string occupying a separate column.
  • If expand=False (default), then the result will be returned as a Series with each part of the split string occupying separate rows.

This parameter allows users to control the format of the output based on their specific needs.