What is dtype('O'), in pandas?

python pandas numpy dataframe types
quant picture quant · Jun 1, 2016 · Viewed 107.4k times · Source

I have a dataframe in pandas and I'm trying to figure out what the types of its values are. I am unsure what the type is of column 'Test'. However, when I run myFrame['Test'].dtype, I get;

dtype('O')

What does this mean?

Answer

jezrael picture jezrael · Jun 1, 2016

It means:

'O'     (Python) objects

Source.

The first character specifies the kind of data and the remaining characters specify the number of bytes per item, except for Unicode, where it is interpreted as the number of characters. The item size must correspond to an existing type, or an error will be raised. The supported kinds are to an existing type, or an error will be raised. The supported kinds are:

'b'       boolean
'i'       (signed) integer
'u'       unsigned integer
'f'       floating-point
'c'       complex-floating point
'O'       (Python) objects
'S', 'a'  (byte-)string
'U'       Unicode
'V'       raw data (void)

Another answer helps if need check types.

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