Learning Notes: CSV File Handling in Python with Examples
**1. Introduction to CSV Files:**
- CSV stands for Comma Seperated Values
- CSV (Comma Separated Values) files are a popular file format for storing tabular data.
- Each line of the file represents a row, and the values within each row are separated by commas.
**2. Reading CSV Files:**
- Use the `csv.reader` class to read a CSV file.
```python
import csv
with open('data.csv', 'r') as file:
reader = csv.reader(file)
for row in reader:
print(row)
```
**3. Reading CSV Files with Headers:**
- When the CSV file has headers, skip the first row using `next(reader)`.
```python
with open('data.csv', 'r') as file:
reader = csv.reader(file)
header = next(reader)
for row in reader:
print(row)
```
**4. Writing to CSV Files:**
- Use `csv.writer` to create and write data to a CSV file.
```python
import csv
with open('output.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
writer = csv.writer(file)
writer.writerow(['Name', 'Age', 'City'])
writer.writerow(['Alice', 25, 'New York'])
writer.writerow(['Bob', 30, 'San Francisco'])
```
**5. Reading CSV Files into Dictionaries:**
- Use `csv.DictReader` to read CSV files into dictionaries.
```python
with open('data.csv', 'r') as file:
reader = csv.DictReader(file)
for row in reader:
print(row['Name'], row['Age'], row['City'])
```
**6. Writing CSV Files from Dictionaries:**
- Use `csv.DictWriter` to write CSV files from dictionaries.
```python
data = [{'Name': 'Alice', 'Age': 25, 'City': 'New York'},
{'Name': 'Bob', 'Age': 30, 'City': 'San Francisco'}]
with open('output.csv', 'w', newline='') as file:
fieldnames = ['Name', 'Age', 'City']
writer = csv.DictWriter(file, fieldnames=fieldnames)
writer.writeheader()
writer.writerows(data)
```
**7. CSV File Manipulation:**
- After reading a CSV file, you can manipulate the data using Python.
- Example: Calculate the average age of individuals in a CSV file.
**8. Error Handling:**
- Handle errors gracefully, such as checking for file existence or handling exceptions when reading or writing
```python
try:
with open('data.csv', 'r') as file:
reader = csv.reader(file)
for row in reader:
print(row)
except FileNotFoundError:
print("File not found.")
```
**9. Best Practices:**
- Use context managers (`with` statements) for proper file handling, ensuring that files are properly closed.
- Handle exceptions when working with files.
**10. Advanced Topics:**
- Advanced topics include handling CSV files with different delimiters, handling missing data, and dealing with
**11. Exercises:**
- Practice reading CSV files, performing data analysis or manipulation, and writing the results back to a new
**12. Additional Resources:**
- Explore the Python `csv` module documentation for more advanced features.
- Consider using libraries like pandas for more powerful data analysis capabilities.
**Exercises:**
1. Read a CSV file containing student names and grades. Calculate the average grade and write it to a new CSV file
2. Read a CSV file with sales data, calculate the total sales, and write it to a new CSV file with a summary.
3. Read a CSV file containing employee data. Find the youngest and oldest employees and write their details to a
4. Handle a CSV file with a different delimiter (e.g., tab or semicolon) and read/write it using the appropriate
**Assessment:**
- Students can be assessed based on their ability to read, write, and manipulate CSV files using Python, as well
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