Python for data analyst book

About the Open Edition

The 3rd edition of Python for Data Analysis is now available as an “Open Access” HTML version on this site https://wesmckinney.com/book in addition to the usual print and e-book formats. This edition was initially published in August 2022 and will have errata fixed periodically over the coming months and years. If you encounter any errata, please report them here. Order a print copy now!

In general, the content from this website may not be copied or reproduced. The code examples are MIT-licensed and can be found on GitHub or Gitee along with the supporting datasets.

If you find the online edition of the book useful, please consider ordering a paper or e-book copy to support the author.

This web version of the book was created with the Quarto publishing system.

What’s New in the 3rd Edition?

The book has been updated for pandas 1.4.0 and Python 3.10. The changes between the 2nd and 3rd editions are focused on bringing the content up-to-date with changes in pandas since 2017.

Update History

This website will be updated periodically as new early release content becomes available, and post-publication for errata fixes.

  • September 20, 2022: Website update after final publication including a couple of minor errata fixes.
  • July 22, 2022: Incorporate copy-editing and other improvements for “QC1” stage of production en route to publication in print later this summer.
  • May 18, 2022: Update open access edition with all chapters. Include edits from technical review feedback (thank you!), acknowledgements for the third edition, and other preparation to make the book ready for production on its way to print later in 2022.
  • February 13, 2022: Update open access edition with chapters 7 through 10.
  • January 23, 2022: First open access edition with chapters 1 through 6.

Book description

Get complete instructions for manipulating, processing, cleaning, and crunching datasets in Python. Updated for Python 3.6, the second edition of this hands-on guide is packed with practical case studies that show you how to solve a broad set of data analysis problems effectively. You’ll learn the latest versions of pandas, NumPy, IPython, and Jupyter in the process.

Written by Wes McKinney, the creator of the Python pandas project, this book is a practical, modern introduction to data science tools in Python. It’s ideal for analysts new to Python and for Python programmers new to data science and scientific computing. Data files and related material are available on GitHub.

  • Use the IPython shell and Jupyter notebook for exploratory computing
  • Learn basic and advanced features in NumPy (Numerical Python)
  • Get started with data analysis tools in the pandas library
  • Use flexible tools to load, clean, transform, merge, and reshape data
  • Create informative visualizations with matplotlib
  • Apply the pandas groupby facility to slice, dice, and summarize datasets
  • Analyze and manipulate regular and irregular time series data
  • Learn how to solve real-world data analysis problems with thorough, detailed examples

Book description

Python for Data Analysis is concerned with the nuts and bolts of manipulating, processing, cleaning, and crunching data in Python. It is also a practical, modern introduction to scientific computing in Python, tailored for data-intensive applications. This is a book about the parts of the Python language and libraries you’ll need to effectively solve a broad set of data analysis problems. This book is not an exposition on analytical methods using Python as the implementation language.

Written by Wes McKinney, the main author of the pandas library, this hands-on book is packed with practical cases studies. It’s ideal for analysts new to Python and for Python programmers new to scientific computing.

  • Use the IPython interactive shell as your primary development environment
  • Learn basic and advanced NumPy (Numerical Python) features
  • Get started with data analysis tools in the pandas library
  • Use high-performance tools to load, clean, transform, merge, and reshape data
  • Create scatter plots and static or interactive visualizations with matplotlib
  • Apply the pandas groupby facility to slice, dice, and summarize datasets
  • Measure data by points in time, whether it’s specific instances, fixed periods, or intervals
  • Learn how to solve problems in web analytics, social sciences, finance, and economics, through detailed examples

Is Python good for data analyst?

Python is a popular multi-purpose programming language widely used for its flexibility, as well as its extensive collection of libraries, which are valuable for analytics and complex calculations.

Which Python is best for data analysis?

Pandas (Python data analysis) is a must in the data science life cycle. It is the most popular and widely used Python library for data science, along with NumPy in matplotlib.

How much Python do data analysts need?

For data science, the estimate is a range from 3 months to a year while practicing consistently. It also depends on the time you can dedicate to learn Python for data science. But it can be said that most learners take at least 3 months to complete the Python for data science learning path.

Where can I learn Python for Data Analysis?

Dataquest is one such platform. We have courses that can take you from beginner to job-ready as a data analyst, data scientist, or data engineer in Python.