Pandas - Add an ID Column to a DataFrame

Introduction

One common task when working with large datasets is the need to generate unique identifiers for each record. In this tutorial, we will explore how to easily add an ID column to a Pandas DataFrame. In order to do this, we use the index attribute of a Pandas DataFrame.

Why Generate an ID Column?

Generating an ID column serves various purposes in data analysis and processing. It facilitates tasks such as indexing, merging datasets, and tracking individual records. By assigning unique identifiers to each row, users can streamline data manipulation operations and gain insights from structured datasets more effectively.

Import Libraries

First, we import the following python modules:

import pandas as pd

Create Pandas DataFrame

Next, we create a Pandas DataFrame with some example data from a dictionary:

data = {
    "language": ["Python", "Python", "Java", "JavaScript"],
    "framework": ["Django", "FastAPI", "Spring", "ReactJS"],
    "users": [20000, 9000, 7000, 5000]
}
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
df

Generate ID Column

Pandas provides several approaches to generate unique identifiers. One simple method involves utilizing the index attribute of the DataFrame, which inherently provides a unique label for each row.