Understanding CSV Files in
Python
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:TO LEARN AND
UNDERSTAND THE USAGE OF CSV FILES AND
APPLYING ITS OPERATIONS
Introduction to CSV Files
● CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values.
● It is a simple file format used to store tabular data.
● Commonly used for data exchange between applications.
What is the csv Module?
● Python has a built-in module called csv.
● It simplifies reading from and writing to CSV files.
● Essential for data manipulation tasks.
Importing the csv Module
● To use the csv module, you must import it.
● Use the command: `import csv`.
● This allows access to all csv functionalities.
Opening a CSV File
● Use the `open()` function to access CSV files.
● Always remember to close the file after use.
● Example: `file = open('students.csv', 'r')`.
● # Opening a CSV file
● file = open('students.csv', 'r')
● # Closing the CSV file
● file.close()
Using the with Statement
● The `with` statement automatically closes the file.
● It ensures proper resource management.
● Example: `with open('students.csv', 'r') as file:`.
Writing into a CSV File
● Use `csv.writer()` to write data.
● It allows writing single or multiple rows.
● Important for data storage tasks.
● with open('students.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
● writer = csv.writer(file)
Writing a Single Row
● Use `writerow()` to write a single row.
● Useful for adding headers or individual records.
● with open('students.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
● writer = csv.writer(file)
● writer.writerow(['Name', 'Age', 'Grade']) # Writing header row
● writer.writerow(['John', 18, 'A']) # Writing data row
Writing Multiple Rows
● Use `writerows()` to write multiple rows at once.
● Takes a list of lists as input.
● Example: `writer.writerows(rows)`.
● with open('students.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
● writer = csv.writer(file)
● rows = [['Name', 'Age', 'Grade'], ['John', 18, 'A'], ['Emma', 17,
'B']]
● writer.writerows(rows)
Reading from a CSV File
● Use `csv.reader()` to read data from CSV files.
● Reads line by line and returns lists for each row.
● Essential for data retrieval tasks.
● with open('students.csv', 'r') as file:
● reader = csv.reader(file)
● for row in reader:
● print(row) # Each row is a list of values
Using csv.reader()
● Example: `for row in reader: print(row)`.
● Each row is represented as a list.
● Great for iterating through data.
Skipping the Header Row
● Use `next(reader)` to skip the header row.
● This is useful when processing data.
● Example: `for row in reader: print(row)`.
● with open('students.csv', 'r') as file:
● reader = csv.reader(file)
● next(reader) # Skipping the header row
● for row in reader:
● print(row)
Example: Writing and Reading
● Demonstrates both writing and reading from a CSV file.
● Combines previous concepts into a single example.
● Helps solidify understanding of CSV operations.
Example: Writing and Reading
● import csv
● # Writing data to a CSV file
● with open('students.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
● writer = csv.writer(file)
● writer.writerow(['Name', 'Age', 'Grade'])
● writer.writerows([['John', 18, 'A'], ['Emma', 17, 'B'], ['Alex', 19, 'A']])
● # Reading data from the CSV file
● with open('students.csv', 'r') as file:
● reader = csv.reader(file)
● next(reader) # Skipping the header row
● for row in reader:
● print(row)
Key Points to Remember
● Always close files after use.
● Use the `with` statement for better management.
● Understand the difference between `writerow()` and `writerows()`.
● Delimiter: The default delimiter in CSV is a comma (,), but you can specify other delimiters like
semicolons (;) or tabs (\t) using the delimiter parameter in csv.writer() or csv.reader().
● newline='': While writing to a CSV file, the newline='' argument in open() ensures no blank lines are
written between rows in certain environments.
Activity Question 1
● Create a CSV file named `employees.csv`.
● Store employee details: name, age, department.
● Use the csv module to accomplish this task.
Activity Question 1
import csv
# Writing data to employees.csv
with open('employees.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
writer = csv.writer(file)
# Writing the header row
writer.writerow(['Name', 'Age', 'Department'])
# Writing the employee details
writer.writerows([
['John Doe', 28, 'HR'],
['Jane Smith', 22, 'Finance'],
['Emily Davis', 32, 'IT'],
['Michael Brown', 26, 'Marketing']
])
print("Employee details have been written to employees.csv")
Activity Question 2
● Read the `employees.csv` file.
● Display employees whose age is greater than 25.
● Practice filtering data from CSV files.
Activity Question 2
import csv
# Reading data from employees.csv and filtering based on age
with open('employees.csv', 'r') as file:
reader = csv.reader(file)
print("Employees with age greater than 25:")
for row in reader:
name, age, department = row[0], row[1], row[2]
# Check if the age is greater than 25 and display the employee details
if age.isdigit() and int(age) > 25:
print(f"Name: {name}, Age: {age}, Department: {department}")
Activity Question 3
● Modify the previous program to skip the header row.
● This enhances your understanding of data processing.
● Focus on practical application of concepts learned.
Activity Question 3
import csv
# Reading data from employees.csv and filtering based on age, skipping the header
with open('employees.csv', 'r') as file:
reader = csv.reader(file)
# Skip the header row
next(reader)
print("Employees with age greater than 25:")
for row in reader:
name, age, department = row[0], row[1], row[2]
# Check if the age is greater than 25 and display the employee details
if age.isdigit() and int(age) > 25:
print(f"Name: {name}, Age: {age}, Department: {department}")
Wrap-Up and Questions
● What challenges did you face while working with CSV files?
● How can you apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios?
● Discuss your thoughts and experiences with the class.
Further Learning Resources
● Explore Python's official documentation on the csv module.
● Look for online tutorials and exercises.
● Practice by creating your own CSV files and manipulating data.
Conclusion
● CSV files are essential for data management.
● Python's csv module simplifies working with these files.
● Mastering these skills will enhance your programming
capabilities.
