One common error you may encounter when using Python is:

NameError: name 'pd' is not defined

This error usually occurs when you import the python library , but fail to give it the alias of pd when importing it.

The following examples illustrate how this error occurs in practice and how you can quickly fix it.

Example 1: Use import pandas as pd

Suppose you import the pandas library using the following code:

import pandas

If you then attempt to create a pandas DataFrame, you’ll get the following error:

#create pandas DataFrame
df = pd.DataFrame({'points': [25, 12, 15, 14, 19, 23, 25, 29],
                   'assists': [5, 7, 7, 9, 12, 9, 9, 4],
                   'rebounds': [11, 8, 10, 6, 6, 5, 9, 12]})

#attempt to print DataFrame
print(df)

Traceback (most recent call last):
      1 import pandas
----> 2 df = pd.DataFrame({'points': [25, 12, 15, 14, 19, 23, 25, 29],
      3                    'assists': [5, 7, 7, 9, 12, 9, 9, 4],
      4                    'rebounds': [11, 8, 10, 6, 6, 5, 9, 12]})
      5 

NameError: name 'pd' is not defined

To fix this error, you need provide the alias of pd when importing pandas

import pandas as pd

#create pandas DataFrame
df = pd.DataFrame({'points': [25, 12, 15, 14, 19, 23, 25, 29],
                   'assists': [5, 7, 7, 9, 12, 9, 9, 4],
                   'rebounds': [11, 8, 10, 6, 6, 5, 9, 12]})

#print DataFrame
print(df)

   points  assists  rebounds
0      25        5        11
1      12        7         8
2      15        7        10
3      14        9         6
4      19       12         6
5      23        9         5
6      25        9         9
7      29        4        12

Example 2: Use import pandas

Suppose you import the pandas library using the following code:

import pandas

If you then attempt to create a pandas DataFrame, you’ll get the following error:

#create pandas DataFrame
df = pd.DataFrame({'points': [25, 12, 15, 14, 19, 23, 25, 29],
                   'assists': [5, 7, 7, 9, 12, 9, 9, 4],
                   'rebounds': [11, 8, 10, 6, 6, 5, 9, 12]})

#attempt to print DataFrame
print(df)

Traceback (most recent call last):
      1 import pandas
----> 2 df = pd.DataFrame({'points': [25, 12, 15, 14, 19, 23, 25, 29],
      3                    'assists': [5, 7, 7, 9, 12, 9, 9, 4],
      4                    'rebounds': [11, 8, 10, 6, 6, 5, 9, 12]})
      5 

NameError: name 'pd' is not defined

To fix this error, you could simply choose not to use the alias of pd at all:

importpandas

#create pandas DataFrame
df = pandas.DataFrame({'points': [25, 12, 15, 14, 19, 23, 25, 29],
                   'assists': [5, 7, 7, 9, 12, 9, 9, 4],
                   'rebounds': [11, 8, 10, 6, 6, 5, 9, 12]})

#print DataFrame
print(df)

   points  assists  rebounds
0      25        5        11
1      12        7         8
2      15        7        10
3      14        9         6
4      19       12         6
5      23        9         5
6      25        9         9
7      29        4        12

Note: The syntax “import pandas as pd” is commonly used because it offers a more concise way to use pandas functions. Instead of typing “pandas” each time, you can simply type in “pd” which is quicker and easier to read.