NumPy
NumPy is a Python library.
NumPy is used for working with arrays.
NumPy is short for "Numerical Python"
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
print(arr)
print(type(arr))
What is NumPy?
NumPy is a Python library used for working with arrays.
It also has functions for working in domain of linear algebra, fourier
transform, and matrices.
NumPy was created in 2005 by Travis Oliphant. It is an open source project
and you can use it freely.
NumPy stands for Numerical Python.
In Python we have lists that serve the purpose of arrays, but they are slow
to process.
NumPy aims to provide an array object that is up to 50x faster than
traditional Python lists.
The array object in NumPy is called ndarray, it provides a lot of supporting
functions that make working with ndarray very easy.
Arrays are very frequently used in data science, where speed and resources
are very important.
Why is NumPy Faster Than Lists?
NumPy arrays are stored at one continuous place in memory unlike lists, so
processes can access and manipulate them very efficiently.
This behavior is called locality of reference in computer science.
This is the main reason why NumPy is faster than lists. Also it is optimized
to work with latest CPU architectures.
Locality of Reference-: a phenomenon in which a computer program tends
to access same set of memory locations for a particular time period
NumPy is a Python library and is written partially in Python, but most of
the parts that require fast computation are written in C or C++.
C:\Users\ >pip install numpy
Create a NumPy ndarray Object
NumPy is used to work with arrays. The array object in NumPy is
called ndarray.
We can create a NumPy ndarray object by using the array() function.
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
print(arr)
print(type(arr))
Use a tuple to create a NumPy array:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array((1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
print(arr)
0-D Arrays
0-D arrays, or Scalars, are the elements in an array. Each value in an array
is a 0-D array.
Example
Create a 0-D array with value 42
import numpy as np
arr = np.array(42)
print(arr)
1-D Arrays
An array that has 0-D arrays as its elements is called uni-dimensional or 1-
D array.
These are the most common and basic arrays.
Example
Create a 1-D array containing the values 1,2,3,4,5:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
print(arr)
2-D Arrays
An array that has 1-D arrays as its elements is called a 2-D array.
These are often used to represent matrix or 2nd order tensors.
NumPy has a whole sub module dedicated towards matrix operations
called numpy.mat
Example
Create a 2-D array containing two arrays with the values 1,2,3 and 4,5,6:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]])
print(arr)
3-D arrays
An array that has 2-D arrays (matrices) as its elements is called 3-D array.
These are often used to represent a 3rd order tensor.
Example
Create a 3-D array with two 2-D arrays, both containing two arrays with
the values 1,2,3 and 4,5,6:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]], [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]])
print(arr)
NumPy Array Indexing
Access Array Elements
Array indexing is the same as accessing an array element.
You can access an array element by referring to its index number.
The indexes in NumPy arrays start with 0, meaning that the first element
has index 0, and the second has index 1 etc.
Example
Get the first element from the following array:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4])
print(arr[0])
Example
Get the second element from the following array.
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4])
print(arr[1])
NumPy Array Slicing
Slicing arrays
Slicing in python means taking elements from one given index to another
given index.
We pass slice instead of index like this: [start:end].
We can also define the step, like this: [start:end:step].
If we don't pass start its considered 0
If we don't pass end its considered length of array in that dimension
If we don't pass step its considered 1
Example
Slice elements from index 1 to index 5 from the following array:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
print(arr[1:5])
Example
Slice elements from index 4 to the end of the array:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
print(arr[4:])
Example
Slice elements from the beginning to index 4 (not included):
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
print(arr[:4])
Negative Slicing
Use the minus operator to refer to an index from the end:
Example
Slice from the index 3 from the end to index 1 from the end:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
print(arr[-3:-1])
[5 6]
STEP
Use the step value to determine the step of the slicing:
Example
Return every other element from index 1 to index 5:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
print(arr[1:5:2])
Example
Return every other element from the entire array:
import numpy as np
arr = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
print(arr[::2])
