Access content in dataframe by loc/iloc or by [ ] [ ]?

[AleksandraFrolo]

Hello,

Task: I am trying to understand, what approach is better to access the content in DataFrame.

My piece of code:

print("First approach: ", df["Purchase Address"][0])
 
print("Second approach: ", df.loc[0,"Purchase Address"])

These lines are equal to each other. For me more comfortable to use first version. Is there any recommends in pandas how to access the content?

[-werners- · Accepted solution]

they are pretty much the same, except that loc can do a tad more:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48409128/what-is-the-difference-between-using-loc-and-using-just...

[Kaniz]

Hi @Aleksandra Frolova​ , To assist you better, please take a moment to review the answer given by @Werner Stinckens​ and let me know if it best fits your needs.

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[Anonymous]

@Aleksandra Frolova​ :

Both approaches you mentioned are valid ways to access content in a DataFrame in pandas. Let's take a closer look at each approach:

Using brackets []:

df["Purchase Address"][0]

Using loc or iloc:

df.loc[0, "Purchase Address"]

Both approaches have their advantages depending on the specific use case:

• The bracket notation [] is simpler and more concise, making it suitable for quick access to specific elements or simple slicing operations. It is commonly used when you have a straightforward DataFrame structure or when you want to access a specific column or row quickly.
• The loc or iloc indexer is more versatile and powerful. It allows you to access elements using label-based indexing (loc) or integer-based indexing (iloc). This is especially useful when you have complex DataFrame structures, customized row and column labels, or when you need more control over your indexing operations.