Anatomy of a DataFrame
A DataFrame in pandas is more than just a table. It is a rich data structure made up of three main parts.
The 3 Core Components
The three core components of a DataFrame are:
| Part | Description | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Index | Labels for each row (can be numbers or names) | df.index |
| Columns | Names of each data field | df.columns |
| Values | The actual data inside the table | df.values |
These parts help pandas organize and reference data efficiently.
Why It's Important
Understanding the anatomy of a DataFrame helps you:
- Access and manipulate data accurately
- Rename, reorder, or restructure rows and columns
- Debug issues in your analysis
When slicing data or joining tables, knowing how the index and columns behave is essential.
What You'll Try in Code
In the notebook, you'll:
- Create a simple DataFrame
- Inspect its index, columns, and values
- Explore how each part stores data internally
This foundational knowledge will support everything you do with pandas later.
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