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Step-by-Step Guide to Reading Different Files in Python

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 In the world of data science, automation, and general programming, working with files is unavoidable. Whether you’re dealing with CSV reports, JSON APIs, Excel sheets, or text logs, Python provides rich and easy-to-use libraries for reading different file formats. In this guide, we’ll explore how to read different files in Python , with code examples and best practices. 1. Reading Text Files ( .txt ) Text files are the simplest form of files. Python’s built-in open() function handles them effortlessly. Example: # Open and read a text file with open ( "sample.txt" , "r" ) as file: content = file.read() print (content) Explanation: "r" mode means read . with open() automatically closes the file when done. Best Practice: Always use with to handle files to avoid memory leaks. 2. Reading CSV Files ( .csv ) CSV files are widely used for storing tabular data. Python has a built-in csv module and a powerful pandas library. Using cs...

How to Fill Nulls in Pandas: bfill and ffill

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In Pandas, bfill and ffill are two important methods used for filling missing values in a DataFrame or Series by propagating the previous (forward fill) or next (backward fill) valid values respectively. These methods are particularly useful when dealing with time series data or other ordered data where missing values need to be filled based on the available adjacent values. ffill (forward fill): When you use the ffill method on a DataFrame or Series, it fills missing values with the previous non-null value in the same column. It propagates the last known value forward. This method is often used to carry forward the last observed value for a specific column, making it a good choice for time series data when the assumption is that the value doesn't change abruptly. Example: import pandas as pd data = {'A': [1, 2, None, 4, None, 6],         'B': [None, 'X', 'Y', None, 'Z', 'W']} df = pd.DataFrame(data) print(df) # Output: #      A     B...