# What is pandas in Python?

> pandas is the free Python library for tables (DataFrames). What it does, the few commands office work needs, and a sales total you can run in Colab.

Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/pandas · Updated 2026-10-24 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com)

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Quick answer

pandas is the free Python library for working with tables. It keeps data in a DataFrame (named columns, numbered rows, like a spreadsheet) and gives one-line commands to total, group, stack, clean and save it.

Last updated October 24, 2026

[Take the free module →](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/python-for-spreadsheet-work/1)Module 1 of the free [Python for Spreadsheet Work Jump Start](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/python-for-spreadsheet-work) course, about 12 minutes. No account needed.

Updated October 24, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about)

## Why it matters for a small business

Most office data arrives as a table: a CSV or Excel export from a sales, accounting or HR system. pandas reads it in one line (pd.read_csv) and then does in one line what takes many clicks in a spreadsheet: sum a column, total by customer, stack monthly files, drop duplicates.

Because the steps are written down, they run the same way on next month's file. That is the main win over a spreadsheet: no rebuilt pivot table, no forgotten filter, no missed row.

A handful of commands covers most office work: sum, groupby, sort_values, concat, merge, drop_duplicates and the str functions for cleaning text. Everything else can be looked up when you need it. pandas also writes results back out: totals.to_csv('totals.csv') or to_excel saves a file you can open in Excel or Google Sheets, so a pandas notebook can sit between a messy export and the clean report your team already reads, without anyone else having to learn Python.

## In a real lesson: Python: Clean a Messy Invoice Export Before You Total It

In the free [Python invoice clean-up lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/python-clean-invoice-export), an export has "maple dental " with a trailing space, "COBALT LEGAL" next to "Cobalt Legal", amounts stored as text like "1,250" and one invoice twice.

Three pandas lines fix it: str.strip().str.title() for the names, str.replace(',', '').astype(int) for the amounts and drop_duplicates() for the copy. The totals are then right: Maple Dental $1,250, Cobalt Legal $860, Harbor Accounting $640.

[Try this lesson free](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/python-clean-invoice-export) or [read the step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/python-clean-invoice-export).

## Common confusions

### DataFrame vs list

A list is one column of values. A DataFrame is a whole table of named columns, built here from lists with pd.DataFrame.

### concat vs merge

concat stacks tables with the same columns under each other. merge matches rows from two tables side by side, like a VLOOKUP.

## Tips

- Show the table after every change (type its name on the last line of the cell) to check it looks right.
- Clean names and numbers before you remove duplicates or total anything.

## Related terms

[Python](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/python) · [CSV](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/csv) · [Pivot table](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/pivot-table)

## More Data, Sheets and Gmail terms

[Parsing rules](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/parsing-rules) · Plain-text email · [Rows](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/rows-spreadsheet) · [Searchable PDF](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/searchable-pdf)

## Where you use it: free lessons

- [Python: Total a Sales Export by Customer in Google Colab](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/python-sales-report) (Google Colab, 12 min)
- [Python: Combine Monthly Sales Exports into One Quarter](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/python-combine-exports) (Google Colab, 12 min)
- [Python: Clean a Messy Invoice Export Before You Total It](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/python-clean-invoice-export) (Google Colab, 12 min)

## Frequently asked questions

**Why is pandas imported as pd?**

import pandas as pd is the usual short name, so commands read pd.DataFrame or pd.read_csv instead of pandas.DataFrame.

**Is pandas free?**

Yes. pandas is open source and already installed in Google Colab.

**Can pandas replace a pivot table?**

For totals by group, yes: df.groupby('customer')['amount'].sum() gives one total per customer, and the line runs again on the next export.

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