Boolean Masking and Filtering
NumPy lets you filter arrays using boolean conditions, a technique known as masking.
When you compare elements in an array, NumPy returns a new array containing only the values that satisfy the condition.
Boolean Arrays
A comparison such as arr > 10 generates a new array of boolean values — True or False.
Boolean Arrays
arr = np.array([5, 12, 18, 7])
mask = arr > 10
print(mask) # [False True True False]
Filtering Values
You can use this boolean array as a mask to filter the original array.
Filtering Values
print(arr[mask]) # [12 18]
Or write it more directly:
Filtering Values another way
print(arr[arr > 10]) # [12 18]
Masking is especially useful for filtering rows, selecting ranges, or identifying outliers.
Summary
- Use comparisons (
>,<,==, etc.) to create boolean masks - Apply the mask to select only the values you want
- Works with both 1D and 2D arrays
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