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In Excel, VLOOKUP
is a function that searches for a value in the first column of a table range and returns a value in the same row from another column. In Pandas, this functionality can be achieved using the merge
function. Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to do a VLOOKUP
in Python using Pandas:
import pandas as pd
For this tutorial, let's consider two DataFrames:
df_main
is our main DataFrame where we want to add new information.df_lookup
is our lookup DataFrame where we'll search for the relevant data.df_main = pd.DataFrame({ 'EmployeeID': [101, 102, 103, 104], 'Name': ['Alice', 'Bob', 'Charlie', 'David'] }) df_lookup = pd.DataFrame({ 'EmployeeID': [101, 102, 103, 104], 'Salary': [50000, 60000, 70000, 80000] })
merge
Function for VLOOKUPWe want to add the 'Salary' column to df_main
based on the 'EmployeeID' column. Here's how you can do that:
result = df_main.merge(df_lookup, on='EmployeeID', how='left')
In the above code:
on='EmployeeID'
indicates that we are using the 'EmployeeID' column as the key for both DataFrames.how='left'
ensures that all rows in df_main
are retained, even if there's no matching 'EmployeeID' in df_lookup
.The result
DataFrame will now have the same rows as df_main
, but with an additional 'Salary' column where the salaries are looked up from df_lookup
based on 'EmployeeID'.
If the key columns in the two DataFrames have different names, you can use the left_on
and right_on
arguments instead of on
:
df_main.rename(columns={'EmployeeID': 'EmpID'}, inplace=True) result = df_main.merge(df_lookup, left_on='EmpID', right_on='EmployeeID', how='left')
If there are multiple matching rows in the lookup table (df_lookup
), then multiple rows will be added to the result.
You can perform other types of joins (like right join, inner join, and full join) using the how
parameter.
This tutorial provides a simple way to replicate Excel's VLOOKUP functionality in Python using Pandas. Once you understand how merge
works, you'll find it offers much more flexibility than traditional VLOOKUP in Excel.
Merging DataFrames in Pandas for VLOOKUP-like functionality:
import pandas as pd # Merging DataFrames for VLOOKUP-like functionality df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') merged_df = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='KeyColumn', how='inner')
Using the merge method for VLOOKUP operations in Pandas:
import pandas as pd # Using the merge method for VLOOKUP operations df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') vlookup_result = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='KeyColumn', how='left')['TargetColumn']
Joining DataFrames in Python for VLOOKUP-like results:
import pandas as pd # Joining DataFrames for VLOOKUP-like results df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') joined_df = df1.set_index('KeyColumn').join(df2.set_index('KeyColumn'), how='left')
Index-based and column-based VLOOKUP with Pandas:
import pandas as pd # Index-based and column-based VLOOKUP df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv').set_index('KeyColumn') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv').set_index('KeyColumn') vlookup_result = df1.join(df2['TargetColumn'])
Handling missing data during VLOOKUP operations in Pandas:
import pandas as pd # Handling missing data during VLOOKUP df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') merged_df = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='KeyColumn', how='left').fillna({'TargetColumn': 'DefaultValue'})
Advanced VLOOKUP techniques with Pandas DataFrames:
import pandas as pd # Advanced VLOOKUP techniques df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') merged_df = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='KeyColumn', how='left') vlookup_result = merged_df.groupby('GroupColumn')['TargetColumn'].agg('sum')
VLOOKUP with multiple criteria in Python Pandas:
import pandas as pd # VLOOKUP with multiple criteria df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') merged_df = pd.merge(df1, df2, on=['KeyColumn1', 'KeyColumn2'], how='left')
Combining VLOOKUP with other Pandas operations:
import pandas as pd # Combining VLOOKUP with other Pandas operations df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') merged_df = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='KeyColumn', how='left') result = merged_df.groupby('GroupColumn')['TargetColumn'].agg(['mean', 'sum'])
Efficient ways to perform VLOOKUP in large datasets with Pandas:
import pandas as pd # Efficient ways to perform VLOOKUP in large datasets df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') vlookup_result = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='KeyColumn', how='left', sort=False)
VLOOKUP and merging based on specific columns in Pandas:
import pandas as pd # VLOOKUP and merging based on specific columns df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') merged_df = pd.merge(df1, df2, left_on='KeyColumn1', right_on='KeyColumn2', how='left')
Concatenating DataFrames for VLOOKUP-like functionality in Pandas:
import pandas as pd # Concatenating DataFrames for VLOOKUP-like functionality df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') concatenated_df = pd.concat([df1.set_index('KeyColumn'), df2.set_index('KeyColumn')], axis=1, join='outer')
VLOOKUP between DataFrames using keys in Pandas:
import pandas as pd # VLOOKUP between DataFrames using keys df1 = pd.read_csv('data1.csv') df2 = pd.read_csv('data2.csv') vlookup_result = df1.merge(df2, left_on='KeyColumn1', right_on='KeyColumn2', how='left')