Python (replace multiple values from different columns using replace)

Question

I have a data frame with different columns.One column x has value "a" and other column y has value "b", can I replace both values simultaneously using replace?

I can do it by two statments like

df["x"]=df["x"].replace("a","not a")
df["y"]=df["y"].replace("b","not b")

It works fine but can I do it in one statement like -

df["x","y"]=df["x","y"].replace(["a","b"],["not a","not b"]) ?

You can replace a string with a string, with another string by chaining another replace to the end.. Not sure how would you describe your suggestion.. — boateng
– boateng, Commented Jul 30, 2018 at 18:59
Are they changing to the same value? Why does it need to be on one line? I think this will run the risk of losing readability. — GetHacked
– GetHacked, Commented Jul 30, 2018 at 19:13

Mephy · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-30 20:38:58Z

1

To index by multiple columns, create a list inside of the indexing operator. Note that the replace method on a DataFrame will replace every occurrence in all the columns (so it may behave differently if you have 'a' values in both columns but only wanted to replace in one of them).

df[['x', 'y']] = df[['x', 'y']].replace({'a':'not a','b':'not b'})

edited Jul 30, 2018 at 20:38

Mephy

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answered Jul 30, 2018 at 19:33

mad_

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2 Comments

Anonamous Over a year ago

Thank you so much:)

Anonamous Over a year ago

I did with list instead of passing dictionary, even that is working. What is the difference if we pass dictionary or list as input in replace?

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