· Pandas · 2 min read

Efficiently Implementing pandas head() Function in Python

Introduction to pandas head() function

The head() function in pandas is used to return the top N (by default, 5) rows of a DataFrame. This is an extremely useful function when dealing with large datasets, as it allows you to quickly preview the data to ensure everything is in order.

To use the head() function in Python, first ensure that you have imported the pandas library using the following command:

import pandas as pd

Then, load your dataset into a DataFrame using read_csv() or another pandas function. Here is an example:

df = pd.read_csv("my_data.csv")

Once your DataFrame is created, you can use the head() function to return the top N rows. By default, head() returns the top 5 rows:

df.head()

You can also specify the number of rows to return. For example, to return the top 10 rows:

df.head(10)

The head() function is incredibly useful for quickly visualizing your data. It allows you to get a sense of the data’s structure, the types of data present, and whether there are any missing values.

In the next sections, we will dive deeper into how to use the head() function and some of its variations.

Syntax and Parameters of pandas head() function

The head() function in pandas is a versatile tool that accepts several parameters that allow you to manipulate your output. We will now discuss the syntax of the head() function, followed by its parameters in detail.

The syntax for the head() function is as follows:

DataFrame.head(n=5, columns=None)

Let’s break this down:

  • n: This is the number of rows to return. By default, the head() function returns the top 5 rows. However, you can specify a different number by passing it as the n parameter. For example, to return the top 10 rows, you would call the head() function as follows: 
    df.head(10)
  • columns: This parameter allows you to specify which columns to include in the output. By default, all columns are included. However, you can pass a list of column names as the columns parameter to specify which ones you want to include. Here is an example: 
    df.head(columns=["name", "age"])

In summary, the head() function in pandas is a powerful tool that allows you to preview the top rows of your DataFrame. By specifying the n parameter, you can determine the number of rows returned, and the columns parameter allows you to select which columns to include in the output.

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