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  • Post category:Pandas
  • Post last modified:March 27, 2024
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You are currently viewing How to Convert List to Pandas Series

To convert a Python list into a Pandas Series directly pass the list object as an argument to the Series() constructor. We can easily convert the list, tuple, and dictionary into a Series using the Series() function. In this article, we will explain how we can convert a Python list to a Series with several examples.

Key Points –

  • Use the pd.Series() function from the Pandas library to convert a Python list to a Pandas Series.
  • The resulting Series retains the order of elements from the original list while introducing indexing capabilities for efficient data manipulation.
  • Conversion to a Pandas Series enables leveraging the extensive functionality provided by Pandas for data analysis, manipulation, and visualization.
  • The elements of the list will become values in the resulting Series.
  • Ensure compatibility of data types between the list elements and the Series, as Pandas Series can handle various data types but may perform type conversion if necessary.

Quick Examples of Convert List to Series

If you are in a hurry, below are some quick examples of how to convert a Python list to a series.


# Quick examples of convert list to series

# Example 1: create the Series
ser = pd.Series(['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"])

# Example 2: convert python list to pandas series
ser = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
ser2 = pd.Series(ser)

# Example 3: use index as a list to convert series
ser = pd.Series(['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"],
                index =['r1', 'r2', 'r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7'])

# Example 4: convert list to pandas series using multiple list 
list = [['Spark'], ['Pyspark'], ['pandas'], ['Oracle'],
         ['Java'], ['Pythan'], ['NumPy'], ['Hyerion']]
ser2 = pd.Series((v[0] for v in list))

# Example 5: create pandas series from list
ser = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
ser2 = pd.Series(ser, index=['r1', 'r2','r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7'])

# Example 6: create Pandas Series with define indexes
ser = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
index = ['r1', 'r2','r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7']
ser2 = pd.Series(ser, index = index)

Convert List to Pandas Series

To convert the list to a Pandas series you can use pandas.Series() function. This is one of the basic ways for creating a series from a list in Pandas.


import pandas as pd

# Convert python list to pandas series
listObj = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
print("Create list:\n", listObj)
ser = pd.Series(listObj)
print("After converting a Series from list:\n", ser)

Yields the same output as above.

pandas series convert list

While creating a Series from the list, you can also assign a name to it.


# Assign name to Series
ser = pd.Series(listObj, name='Technologies')
print("After converting a Series from list:\n", ser)

This assigns a ‘Technologies’ name to the Series.

pandas series convert list

Conver to Series from List of Values & Index

You can also use the index as a list while converting to a series. Here I will take the index as a list of values 'r1','r2','r3','r4','r5','r6','r7'.


# Use index as a list to convert series
ser = pd.Series(['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"],
                index =['r1', 'r2', 'r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7'])
print("After converting a Series from list:\n", ser)

Yields below output.


# Output:
# After converting a Series from list:
r1       Java
r2      Spark
r3    PySpark
r4     Pandas
r5      NumPy
r6     Python
r7     Oracle
dtype: object

Convert List to Series Using Multiple List

If you have a list of lists and you can easily convert it to a pandas Series by iterating over them using a for loop. To pass a list of lists into Series() function, it will return a series based on its index.


# Convert list to pandas series using multiple list 
list = [ ['Spark'], ['Pyspark'], ['pandas'], ['Oracle'],
         ['Java'], ['Pythan'], ['NumPy'], ['Hyerion'] ]
           
# Create Pandas Series
ser2 = pd.Series((i[0] for i in list))
print("After converting a Series from list:\n", ser2)

Yields below output.


# Output:
# After converting a Series from list:
0      Spark
1    Pyspark
2     pandas
3     Oracle
4       Java
5     Pythan
6      NumPy
7    Hyerion
dtype: object

Complete Example For Convert Python List to Series


import pandas as pd

# Convert python list to pandas series
ser = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
ser2 = pd.Series(ser)

# Use index as a list to convert series
ser = pd.Series(['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"],
                index =['r1', 'r2', 'r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7'])
print(ser)

# Convert list to pandas series using multiple list 
list = [['Spark'], ['Pyspark'], ['pandas'], ['Oracle'],
         ['Java'], ['Pythan'], ['NumPy'], ['Hyerion']]
ser2 = pd.Series((v[0] for v in list))
print(ser2) 

# Create pandas series from list
ser = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
ser2 = pd.Series(ser, index=['r1', 'r2','r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7'])
print(ser2)

# Create Pandas Series with define indexes
ser = ['Java','Spark','PySpark','Pandas','NumPy','Python',"Oracle"]
index = ['r1', 'r2','r3', 'r4', 'r5','r6','r7']
ser2 = pd.Series(ser, index = index)
print(ser2)

Frequently Asked Questions on Convert List to Pandas Series

What is a Pandas Series?

A Pandas Series is a one-dimensional labeled array capable of holding data of various types. It is similar to a Python list or one-dimensional NumPy array but with additional features and functionality.

How do I convert a Python list to a Pandas Series?

To convert a Python list to a Pandas Series, you can use the pd.Series() function provided by the Pandas library. Simply pass the list as an argument to this function.

Can I specify custom index values when converting a list to a Pandas Series?

You can specify custom index values when converting a list to a Pandas Series. You can provide the list of index values as a second argument to the pd.Series() function.

What are the benefits of converting a list to a Pandas Series?

Converting a list to a Pandas Series allows you to leverage the powerful data manipulation and analysis tools provided by the Pandas library. Series objects offer advanced functionality such as indexing, alignment, and arithmetic operations.

Are there any considerations when converting a list to a Pandas Series?

Ensure that the elements of the list are compatible with Pandas data types. Also, consider whether you need to specify custom index values or use the default integer index. Additionally, be aware that converting large lists to Series may consume memory, so consider memory constraints when working with large datasets.

Conclusion

In this article, I have explained how to convert a Python list to a Pandas series using pandas.Series() function and several other ways with examples.

Happy Learning !!

References

Malli

Malli is an experienced technical writer with a passion for translating complex Python concepts into clear, concise, and user-friendly articles. Over the years, he has written hundreds of articles in Pandas, NumPy, Python, and takes pride in ability to bridge the gap between technical experts and end-users.