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Python CSV tutorial - read write CSV
last modified July 6, 2020
Python CSV tutorial shows how to read and write CSV data with Python csv module.
CSV
CSV (Comma Separated Values) is a very popular import and export data format used in
spreadsheets and databases. Each line in a CSV file is a data record. Each record consists of one or
more fields, separated by commas. While CSV is a very simple data format, there can be many
differences, such as different delimiters, new lines, or quoting characters.
Python csv module
The csv module implements classes to read and write tabular data in CSV format. The csv
module's reader and writer objects read and write sequences. Programmers can also read and
write data in dictionary form using the DictReader and DictWriter classes.
Python CSV methods
The following table shows Python csv methods:
Method Description
csv.reader returns a reader object which iterates over lines of a CSV file
csv.writer returns a writer object which writes data into CSV file
csv.register_dialect registers a CSV dialect
csv.unregister_dialect unregisters a CSV dialect
csv.get_dialect returns a dialect with the given name
csv.list_dialects returns all registered dialects
csv.field_size_limit returns the current maximum field size allowed by the parser
Using Python csv module
import csv
To use Python CSV module, we import csv.
Python CSV reader
The csv.reader() method returns a reader object which iterates over lines in the given CSV file.
$ cat numbers.csv
16,6,4,12,81,6,71,6
The numbers.csv file contains numbers.
read_csv.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
import csv
f = open('numbers.csv', 'r')
with f:
reader = csv.reader(f)
for row in reader:
for e in row:
print(e)
In the code example, we open the numbers.csv for reading and read its contents.
reader = csv.reader(f)
We get the reader object.
for row in reader:
for e in row:
print(e)
With two for loops, we iterate over the data.
$ ./read_csv.py
16
6
4
12
81
6
71
6
This is the output of the example.
Python CSV reader with different delimiter
The csv.reader() method allows to use a different delimiter with its delimiter attribute.
$ cat items.csv
pen|cup|bottle
chair|book|tablet
The items.csv contains values separated with '|' character.
read_csv.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
import csv
f = open('items.csv', 'r')
with f:
reader = csv.reader(f, delimiter="|")
for row in reader:
for e in row:
print(e)
The code example reads and displays data from a CSV file that uses a '|' delimiter.
$ ./read_csv2.py
pen
cup
bottle
chair
book
tablet
This is the output of the example.
Python CSV DictReader
The csv.DictReader class operates like a regular reader but maps the information read into a
dictionary. The keys for the dictionary can be passed in with the fieldnames parameter or inferred
from the first row of the CSV file.
$ cat values.csv
min,avg,max
1, 5.5, 10
2, 3.5, 5
The first line of the file consists of dictionary keys.
read_csv_dictionary.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
# read_csv3.py
import csv
f = open('values.csv', 'r')
with f:
reader = csv.DictReader(f)
for row in reader:
print(row['min'], row['avg'], row['max'])
The example reads the values from the values.csv file using the csv.DictReader.
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for row in reader:
print(row['min'], row['avg'], row['max'] )
The row is a Python dictionary and we reference the data with the keys.
Python CSV writer
The csv.writer() method returns a writer object which converts the user's data into delimited
strings on the given file-like object.
write_csv.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
import csv
nms = [[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]]
f = open('numbers2.csv', 'w')
with f:
writer = csv.writer(f)
for row in nms:
writer.writerow(row)
The script writes numbers into the numbers2.csv file. The writerow() method writes a row of
data into the specified file.
$ cat numbers2.csv
1,2,3,4,5,6
7,8,9,10,11,12
It is possible to write all data in one shot. The writerows() method writes all given rows to the
CSV file.
write_csv2.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
import csv
nms = [[1, 2, 3], [7, 8, 9], [10, 11, 12]]
f = open('numbers3.csv', 'w')
with f:
writer = csv.writer(f)
writer.writerows(nms)
The code example writes three rows of numbers into the file using the writerows() method.
Python CSV DictWriter
The csv.DictWriter class operates like a regular writer but maps Python dictionaries into CSV
rows. The fieldnames parameter is a sequence of keys that identify the order in which values in
the dictionary passed to the writerow() method are written to the CSV file.
write_csv_dictionary.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
import csv
f = open('names.csv', 'w')
with f:
fnames = ['first_name', 'last_name']
writer = csv.DictWriter(f, fieldnames=fnames)
writer.writeheader()
writer.writerow({'first_name' : 'John', 'last_name': 'Smith'})
writer.writerow({'first_name' : 'Robert', 'last_name': 'Brown'})
writer.writerow({'first_name' : 'Julia', 'last_name': 'Griffin'})
The example writes the values from Python dictionaries into the CSV file using the
csv.DictWriter.
writer = csv.DictWriter(f, fieldnames=fnames)
New csv.DictWriter is created. The header names are passed to the fieldnames parameter.
writer.writeheader()
The writeheader() method writes the headers to the CSV file.
writer.writerow({'first_name' : 'John', 'last_name': 'Smith'})
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The Python dictionary is written to a row in a CSV file.
$ cat names.csv
first_name,last_name
John,Smith
Robert,Brown
Julia,Griffin
This is the output.
Python CSV custom dialect
A custom dialect is created with the csv.register_dialect() method.
custom_dialect.py
#!/usr/bin/python3
import csv
csv.register_dialect("hashes", delimiter="#")
f = open('items3.csv', 'w')
with f:
writer = csv.writer(f, dialect="hashes")
writer.writerow(("pens", 4))
writer.writerow(("plates", 2))
writer.writerow(("bottles", 4))
writer.writerow(("cups", 1))
The program uses a (#) character as a delimiter. The dialect is specified with the dialect option in
the csv.writer() method.
$ cat items3.csv
pens#4
plates#2
bottles#4
cups#1
This is the output.
In this tutorial, we have worked with CSV in Python.
List all Python tutorials.
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