Strictly Typed Pandas: static type checking of pandas DataFrames

I love Pandas! But in production code I’m always a bit wary when I see:

import pandas as pd

def foo(df: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
    # do stuff
    return df

Because… How do I know which columns are supposed to be in df?

Using strictly_typed_pandas, we can be more explicit about what these data should look like.

from strictly_typed_pandas import DataSet

class Schema:
    id: int
    name: str

def foo(df: DataSet[Schema]) -> DataSet[Schema]:
    # do stuff
    return df

Where DataSet:

• is a subclass of pd.DataFrame and hence has the same functionality as DataFrame.
• validates whether the data adheres to the provided schema upon its initialization.
• is immutable, so its schema cannot be changed using inplace modifications.

The DataSet[Schema] annotations are compatible with:

• mypy for type checking during linting-time (i.e. while you write your code).
• typeguard for type checking during run-time (i.e. while you run your unit tests).

To get the most out of strictly_typed_pandas, be sure to:

• set up mypy in your IDE.
• run your unit tests with pytest --typeguard-packages=foo.bar (where foo.bar is your package name).

Installation

pip install strictly-typed-pandas

Documentation

For example notebooks and API documentation, please see our ReadTheDocs.

FAQ

Do you know of something similar for pyspark?

Yes! Check out our package typedspark.

Why use Python if you want static typing?

There are just so many good packages for data science in Python. Rather than sacrificing all of that by moving to a different language, I'd like to make the Pythonverse a little bit better.

I found a bug! What should I do?

Great! Contact me and I'll look into it.

I have a great idea to improve strictly_typed_pandas! How can we make this work?

Awesome, drop me a line!