Chapter 3: Fast Array Operations with NumPy, Pandas, and Xarray

NumPy is the de facto standard for scientific computing in Python. It offers flexible multidimensional arrays that allow you to perform fast and concise mathematical calculations.

NumPy provides common data structures and algorithms designed to express complex mathematical operations using a concise syntax. The multidimensional array, numpy.ndarray, is internally based on C arrays. Apart from the performance benefits, this choice allows NumPy code to easily interface with the existing C and FORTRAN routines; NumPy helps bridge the gap between Python and the legacy code written using those languages.

In this chapter, we will learn how to create and manipulate NumPy arrays. We will also explore the NumPy broadcasting feature, which is used to rewrite complex mathematical expressions efficiently and succinctly.

pandas is a tool that relies heavily on NumPy and provides additional data structures and algorithms targeted...