Repository: narwhals-dev/narwhals (python)

Issue:
[Enh]: `nw.(DType|Schema)` conversion API
### We would like to learn about your use case. For example, if this feature is needed  to adopt Narwhals in an open source project, could you please enter the link to it below?


We've already adopted `narwhals` in https://github.com/vega/altair
This feature would be helpful for https://github.com/vega/altair/pull/3631

### Please describe the purpose of the new feature or describe the problem to solve.

In (https://github.com/vega/altair/pull/3631), I've used serialized dataset schemas to improve consistency between `polars`, `pandas` and `pyarrow` when reading from file.

A challenge I've had is how to incorporate these data types:
- what functions accept a `nw.Schema`?
- when do I need to fall back to native types?

Maybe this is a niche problem, but I'd really appreciate some public API to utilize all the `narwhals` -> *native* type conversion logic.

### Suggest a solution if possible.

The `nw.Schema` -> *native* logic for this is already specified in `nw.functions._from_dict_impl`.

<details><summary><code>nw.functions._from_dict_impl</code></summary>
<p>

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/functions.py#L444-L546

</p>
</details> 

Additionally, each of these functions for the individual types:

<details><summary><b>6x</b> <code>nw._(.*).utils.narwhals_to_native_dtype</code></summary>
<p>

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/_arrow/utils.py#L86

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/_duckdb/utils.py#L142

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/_dask/utils.py#L109

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/_pandas_like/utils.py#L518

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/_polars/utils.py#L150

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/_spark_like/utils.py#L82

</p>
</details> 

#### Solution 1
Add method(s) on `DType`

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/dtypes.py#L27

#### Solution 2 (Preferred)
Add method(s) on `Schema`

https://github.com/narwhals-dev/narwhals/blob/53e780c7e7a2640cca03005a27f2c6913cc40e7e/narwhals/schema.py#L27

This doesn't rule out *Solution 1*, but I think it could be the cleaner API if only one were chosen.

Something like this would be pretty ergonomic.
For my use case, I could just pass the `nw.Schema` around and only convert it when needed:

```py
from typing import Any, TYPE_CHECKING

if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from types import ModuleType
    from typing import TypeAlias

    import pandas as pa
    import polars as pl

WhateverPandasIs: TypeAlias = Any

class Schema:
    def to_native(self, native_namespace: ModuleType) -> Any: ...
    def to_polars(self) -> pl.Schema: ...
    def to_arrow(self) -> pa.Schema: ...
    def to_pandas(self) -> dict[str, WhateverPandasIs]: ...
```




### If you have tried alternatives, please describe them below.

This is a short version of what I'm doing currently in (https://github.com/vega/altair/pull/3631#discussion_r1937953187).

It would be great to *not* rely on the `narwhals` internals for this though:

```py
import narwhals.stable.v1 as nw

class SchemaCache:
    def schema(self, name: str, /) -> dict[str, nw.dtypes.DType]: ...
    def schema_pyarrow(self, name: str, /):
        schema = self.schema(name)
        if schema:
            from narwhals._arrow.utils import narwhals_to_native_dtype
            from narwhals.utils import Version

            m = {k: narwhals_to_native_dtype(v, Version.V1) for k, v in schema.items()}
        else:
            m = {}
        return nw.dependencies.get_pyarrow().schema(m)
```

### Additional information that may help us understand your needs.

<details><summary>API overview vega/altair#3631</summary>
<p>

```rst
Load example datasets *remotely* from `vega-datasets`_.

Provides **70+** datasets, used throughout our `Example Gallery`_.

You can learn more about each dataset at `datapackage.md`_.

Examples
--------
Load a dataset as a ``DataFrame``/``Table``::

    from altair.datasets import load

    load("cars")

.. note::
   Requires installation of either `polars`_, `pandas`_, or `pyarrow`_.

Get the remote address of a dataset and use directly in a :class:`altair.Chart`::

    import altair as alt
    from altair.datasets import url

    source = url("co2-concentration")
    alt.Chart(source).mark_line(tooltip=True).encode(x="Date:T", y="CO2:Q")

.. note::
   Works without any additional dependencies.

For greater control over the backend library use::

    from altair.datasets import Loader

    load = Loader.from_backend("polars")
    load("penguins")
    load.url("penguins")

This method also provides *precise* <kbd>Tab</kbd> completions on the returned object::

    load("cars").<Tab>
    #            bottom_k
    #            drop
    #            drop_in_place
    #            drop_nans
    #            dtypes
    #            ...

.. _vega-datasets:
    https://github.com/vega/vega-datasets
.. _Example Gallery:
    https://altair-viz.github.io/gallery/index.html#example-gallery
.. _datapackage.md:
    https://github.com/vega/vega-datasets/blob/main/datapackage.md
.. _polars:
    https://docs.pola.rs/user-guide/installation/
.. _pandas:
    https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/getting_started/install.html
.. _pyarrow:
    https://arrow.apache.org/docs/python/install.html
```


</p>
</details>

- [Some of the more creative ways I've approached IO](https://github.com/vega/altair/blob/7bb6f9e7a8c98152f17a2ec9c57141cc58171148/altair/datasets/_readimpl.py#L328-L443)
- [An example of schema information available](https://github.com/vega/vega-datasets/blob/7a54cc66d1fa30b83b565f9c1de99508badd6c3e/datapackage.json#L2033-L2100)
  - [How that translates to `narwhals`](https://github.com/vega/altair/blob/869d2161bde45d59582c687e574fbfe0f7efe776/altair/datasets/_cache.py#L65-L92)


I'd be happy to help with a PR to implement this if anyone else can see the potential value.

I've really been enjoying using `narwhals` and it has played a **central role** in this pretty long-running PR.
Big thank you to anyone who has contributed 🙏 

Pull request description:
feat: add `Schema.to_(arrow|pandas|polars)`
Will close #1912

## What type of PR is this? (check all applicable)
- [x] ✨ Feature

## Related issues

- Closes #1912

## Checklist

- [x] Code follows style guide (ruff)
- [x] Tests added
- [x] Documented the changes

## If you have comments or can explain your changes, please do so below
- Started with porting `nw.functions._from_dict_impl`
- Extended `Schema` w/ `._version`

Patch:
diff --git a/narwhals/_pandas_like/series.py b/narwhals/_pandas_like/series.py
index a652ea7a..bb59a439 100644
--- a/narwhals/_pandas_like/series.py
+++ b/narwhals/_pandas_like/series.py
@@ -241,14 +241,14 @@ class PandasLikeSeries(CompliantSeries):
         dtype_backend = get_dtype_backend(
             dtype=ser.dtype, implementation=self._implementation
         )
-        dtype = narwhals_to_native_dtype(
+        pd_dtype = narwhals_to_native_dtype(
             dtype,
             dtype_backend=dtype_backend,
             implementation=self._implementation,
             backend_version=self._backend_version,
             version=self._version,
         )
-        return self._from_native_series(ser.astype(dtype))
+        return self._from_native_series(ser.astype(pd_dtype))
 
     def item(self: Self, index: int | None) -> Any:
         # cuDF doesn't have Series.item().
diff --git a/narwhals/_pandas_like/utils.py b/narwhals/_pandas_like/utils.py
index e02807de..518d2e8f 100644
--- a/narwhals/_pandas_like/utils.py
+++ b/narwhals/_pandas_like/utils.py
@@ -23,10 +23,13 @@ from narwhals.utils import isinstance_or_issubclass
 T = TypeVar("T")
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from pandas._typing import Dtype as PandasDtype
+
     from narwhals._pandas_like.dataframe import PandasLikeDataFrame
     from narwhals._pandas_like.expr import PandasLikeExpr
     from narwhals._pandas_like.series import PandasLikeSeries
     from narwhals.dtypes import DType
+    from narwhals.typing import DTypeBackend
 
     ExprT = TypeVar("ExprT", bound=PandasLikeExpr)
 
@@ -499,113 +502,104 @@ def native_to_narwhals_dtype(
     raise AssertionError(msg)
 
 
-def get_dtype_backend(dtype: Any, implementation: Implementation) -> str:
-    if implementation in {Implementation.PANDAS, Implementation.MODIN}:
-        import pandas as pd
-
-        if hasattr(pd, "ArrowDtype") and isinstance(dtype, pd.ArrowDtype):
-            return "pyarrow-nullable"
+def get_dtype_backend(dtype: Any, implementation: Implementation) -> DTypeBackend:
+    """Get dtype backend for pandas type.
 
-        with suppress(AttributeError):
-            if isinstance(dtype, pd.core.dtypes.dtypes.BaseMaskedDtype):
-                return "pandas-nullable"
-        return "numpy"
-    else:  # pragma: no cover
-        return "numpy"
+    Matches pandas' `dtype_backend` argument in `convert_dtypes`.
+    """
+    if implementation is Implementation.CUDF:
+        return None
+    if hasattr(pd, "ArrowDtype") and isinstance(dtype, pd.ArrowDtype):
+        return "pyarrow"
+    with suppress(AttributeError):
+        if isinstance(dtype, pd.core.dtypes.dtypes.BaseMaskedDtype):
+            return "numpy_nullable"
+    return None
 
 
 def narwhals_to_native_dtype(  # noqa: PLR0915
     dtype: DType | type[DType],
-    dtype_backend: str | None,
+    dtype_backend: DTypeBackend,
     implementation: Implementation,
     backend_version: tuple[int, ...],
     version: Version,
-) -> Any:
+) -> str | PandasDtype:
+    if dtype_backend is not None and dtype_backend not in {"pyarrow", "numpy_nullable"}:
+        msg = f"Expected one of {{None, 'pyarrow', 'numpy_nullable'}}, got: '{dtype_backend}'"
+        raise ValueError(msg)
     dtypes = import_dtypes_module(version)
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Float64):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "Float64[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "Float64"
-        else:
-            return "float64"
+        return "float64"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Float32):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "Float32[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "Float32"
-        else:
-            return "float32"
+        return "float32"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Int64):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "Int64[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "Int64"
-        else:
-            return "int64"
+        return "int64"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Int32):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "Int32[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "Int32"
-        else:
-            return "int32"
+        return "int32"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Int16):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "Int16[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "Int16"
-        else:
-            return "int16"
+        return "int16"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Int8):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "Int8[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "Int8"
-        else:
-            return "int8"
+        return "int8"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.UInt64):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "UInt64[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "UInt64"
-        else:
-            return "uint64"
+        return "uint64"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.UInt32):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "UInt32[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "UInt32"
-        else:
-            return "uint32"
+        return "uint32"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.UInt16):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "UInt16[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "UInt16"
-        else:
-            return "uint16"
+        return "uint16"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.UInt8):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "UInt8[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "UInt8"
-        else:
-            return "uint8"
+        return "uint8"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.String):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "string[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "string"
-        else:
-            return str
+        return str
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Boolean):
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             return "boolean[pyarrow]"
-        if dtype_backend == "pandas-nullable":
+        elif dtype_backend == "numpy_nullable":
             return "boolean"
-        else:
-            return "bool"
+        return "bool"
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Categorical):
         # TODO(Unassigned): is there no pyarrow-backed categorical?
         # or at least, convert_dtypes(dtype_backend='pyarrow') doesn't
@@ -622,7 +616,7 @@ def narwhals_to_native_dtype(  # noqa: PLR0915
         ):  # pragma: no cover
             dt_time_unit = "ns"
 
-        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable":
+        if dtype_backend == "pyarrow":
             tz_part = f", tz={dt_time_zone}" if dt_time_zone else ""
             return f"timestamp[{dt_time_unit}{tz_part}][pyarrow]"
         else:
@@ -636,7 +630,7 @@ def narwhals_to_native_dtype(  # noqa: PLR0915
             dt_time_unit = "ns"
         return (
             f"duration[{du_time_unit}][pyarrow]"
-            if dtype_backend == "pyarrow-nullable"
+            if dtype_backend == "pyarrow"
             else f"timedelta64[{du_time_unit}]"
         )
     if isinstance_or_issubclass(dtype, dtypes.Date):
diff --git a/narwhals/functions.py b/narwhals/functions.py
index 1089c94e..0d0a1e29 100644
--- a/narwhals/functions.py
+++ b/narwhals/functions.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from narwhals.dataframe import LazyFrame
 from narwhals.dependencies import is_numpy_array
 from narwhals.exceptions import ShapeError
 from narwhals.expr import Expr
+from narwhals.schema import Schema
 from narwhals.translate import from_native
 from narwhals.translate import to_native
 from narwhals.utils import Implementation
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing_extensions import Self
 
     from narwhals.dtypes import DType
-    from narwhals.schema import Schema
     from narwhals.series import Series
     from narwhals.typing import IntoDataFrameT
     from narwhals.typing import IntoExpr
@@ -343,10 +343,12 @@ def _new_series_impl(
             )
 
             backend_version = parse_version(native_namespace.__version__)
-            dtype = pandas_like_narwhals_to_native_dtype(
+            pd_dtype = pandas_like_narwhals_to_native_dtype(
                 dtype, None, implementation, backend_version, version
             )
-        native_series = native_namespace.Series(values, name=name, dtype=dtype)
+            native_series = native_namespace.Series(values, name=name, dtype=pd_dtype)
+        else:
+            native_series = native_namespace.Series(values, name=name)
 
     elif implementation is Implementation.PYARROW:
         if dtype:
@@ -449,20 +451,14 @@ def from_dict(
     backend = validate_native_namespace_and_backend(
         backend, native_namespace, emit_deprecation_warning=True
     )
-    return _from_dict_impl(
-        data,
-        schema,
-        backend=backend,
-        version=Version.MAIN,
-    )
+    return _from_dict_impl(data, schema, backend=backend)
 
 
-def _from_dict_impl(  # noqa: PLR0915
+def _from_dict_impl(
     data: dict[str, Any],
     schema: dict[str, DType] | Schema | None = None,
     *,
     backend: ModuleType | Implementation | str | None = None,
-    version: Version,
 ) -> DataFrame[Any]:
     from narwhals.series import Series
 
@@ -494,18 +490,7 @@ def _from_dict_impl(  # noqa: PLR0915
         msg = f"Unsupported `backend` value.\nExpected one of {supported_eager_backends} or None, got: {eager_backend}."
         raise ValueError(msg)
     if eager_backend is Implementation.POLARS:
-        if schema:
-            from narwhals._polars.utils import (
-                narwhals_to_native_dtype as polars_narwhals_to_native_dtype,
-            )
-
-            schema_pl = {
-                name: polars_narwhals_to_native_dtype(dtype, version=version)
-                for name, dtype in schema.items()
-            }
-        else:
-            schema_pl = None
-
+        schema_pl = Schema(schema).to_polars() if schema else None
         native_frame = native_namespace.from_dict(data, schema=schema_pl)
     elif eager_backend in {
         Implementation.PANDAS,
@@ -535,36 +520,16 @@ def _from_dict_impl(  # noqa: PLR0915
 
         if schema:
             from narwhals._pandas_like.utils import get_dtype_backend
-            from narwhals._pandas_like.utils import (
-                narwhals_to_native_dtype as pandas_like_narwhals_to_native_dtype,
-            )
-
-            backend_version = parse_version(native_namespace.__version__)
-            schema = {
-                name: pandas_like_narwhals_to_native_dtype(
-                    dtype=schema[name],
-                    dtype_backend=get_dtype_backend(native_type, eager_backend),
-                    implementation=eager_backend,
-                    backend_version=backend_version,
-                    version=version,
-                )
-                for name, native_type in native_frame.dtypes.items()
-            }
-            native_frame = native_frame.astype(schema)
 
-    elif eager_backend is Implementation.PYARROW:
-        if schema:
-            from narwhals._arrow.utils import (
-                narwhals_to_native_dtype as arrow_narwhals_to_native_dtype,
+            pd_schema = Schema(schema).to_pandas(
+                get_dtype_backend(native_type, eager_backend)
+                for native_type in native_frame.dtypes
             )
+            native_frame = native_frame.astype(pd_schema)
 
-            schema = native_namespace.schema(
-                [
-                    (name, arrow_narwhals_to_native_dtype(dtype, version))
-                    for name, dtype in schema.items()
-                ]
-            )
-        native_frame = native_namespace.table(data, schema=schema)
+    elif eager_backend is Implementation.PYARROW:
+        pa_schema = Schema(schema).to_arrow() if schema is not None else schema
+        native_frame = native_namespace.table(data, schema=pa_schema)
     else:  # pragma: no cover
         try:
             # implementation is UNKNOWN, Narwhals extension using this feature should
@@ -772,7 +737,7 @@ def _from_numpy_impl(
             )
 
             backend_version = parse_version(native_namespace.__version__)
-            schema = {
+            pd_schema = {
                 name: pandas_like_narwhals_to_native_dtype(
                     dtype=schema[name],
                     dtype_backend=get_dtype_backend(native_type, implementation),
@@ -783,7 +748,7 @@ def _from_numpy_impl(
                 for name, native_type in schema.items()
             }
             native_frame = native_namespace.DataFrame(data, columns=schema.keys()).astype(
-                schema
+                pd_schema
             )
         elif isinstance(schema, list):
             native_frame = native_namespace.DataFrame(data, columns=schema)
diff --git a/narwhals/schema.py b/narwhals/schema.py
index 52991c47..8749ef4b 100644
--- a/narwhals/schema.py
+++ b/narwhals/schema.py
@@ -7,14 +7,26 @@ https://github.com/pola-rs/polars/blob/main/py-polars/polars/schema.py.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
+from functools import partial
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 from typing import Iterable
 from typing import Mapping
+from typing import cast
+
+from narwhals.utils import Implementation
+from narwhals.utils import Version
+from narwhals.utils import parse_version
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from typing import Any
+    from typing import ClassVar
+
+    import polars as pl
+    import pyarrow as pa
     from typing_extensions import Self
 
     from narwhals.dtypes import DType
+    from narwhals.typing import DTypeBackend
 
     BaseSchema = OrderedDict[str, DType]
 else:
@@ -55,6 +67,8 @@ class Schema(BaseSchema):
         2
     """
 
+    _version: ClassVar[Version] = Version.MAIN
+
     def __init__(
         self: Self,
         schema: Mapping[str, DType] | Iterable[tuple[str, DType]] | None = None,
@@ -85,3 +99,113 @@ class Schema(BaseSchema):
             Number of columns.
         """
         return len(self)
+
+    def to_arrow(self: Self) -> pa.Schema:
+        """Convert Schema to a pyarrow Schema.
+
+        Returns:
+            A pyarrow Schema.
+
+        Examples:
+            >>> import narwhals as nw
+            >>> schema = nw.Schema({"a": nw.Int64(), "b": nw.Datetime("ns")})
+            >>> schema.to_arrow()
+            a: int64
+            b: timestamp[ns]
+        """
+        import pyarrow as pa  # ignore-banned-import
+
+        from narwhals._arrow.utils import narwhals_to_native_dtype
+
+        return pa.schema(
+            (name, narwhals_to_native_dtype(dtype, self._version))
+            for name, dtype in self.items()
+        )
+
+    def to_pandas(
+        self: Self, dtype_backend: DTypeBackend | Iterable[DTypeBackend] = None
+    ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        """Convert Schema to an ordered mapping of column names to their pandas data type.
+
+        Arguments:
+            dtype_backend: Backend(s) used for the native types. When providing more than
+                one, the length of the iterable must be equal to the length of the schema.
+
+        Returns:
+            An ordered mapping of column names to their pandas data type.
+
+        Examples:
+            >>> import narwhals as nw
+            >>> schema = nw.Schema({"a": nw.Int64(), "b": nw.Datetime("ns")})
+            >>> schema.to_pandas()
+            {'a': 'int64', 'b': 'datetime64[ns]'}
+
+            >>> schema.to_pandas("pyarrow")
+            {'a': 'Int64[pyarrow]', 'b': 'timestamp[ns][pyarrow]'}
+        """
+        import pandas as pd  # ignore-banned-import
+
+        from narwhals._pandas_like.utils import narwhals_to_native_dtype
+
+        to_native_dtype = partial(
+            narwhals_to_native_dtype,
+            implementation=Implementation.PANDAS,
+            backend_version=parse_version(pd.__version__),
+            version=self._version,
+        )
+        if dtype_backend is None or isinstance(dtype_backend, str):
+            return {
+                name: to_native_dtype(dtype=dtype, dtype_backend=dtype_backend)
+                for name, dtype in self.items()
+            }
+        else:
+            backends = tuple(dtype_backend)
+            if len(backends) != len(self):
+                from itertools import chain
+                from itertools import islice
+                from itertools import repeat
+
+                n_user, n_actual = len(backends), len(self)
+                suggestion = tuple(
+                    islice(
+                        chain.from_iterable(islice(repeat(backends), n_actual)), n_actual
+                    )
+                )
+                msg = (
+                    f"Provided {n_user!r} `dtype_backend`(s), but schema contains {n_actual!r} field(s).\n"
+                    "Hint: instead of\n"
+                    f"    schema.to_pandas({backends})\n"
+                    "you may want to use\n"
+                    f"    schema.to_pandas({backends[0]})\n"
+                    f"or\n"
+                    f"    schema.to_pandas({suggestion})"
+                )
+                raise ValueError(msg)
+            return {
+                name: to_native_dtype(dtype=dtype, dtype_backend=backend)
+                for name, dtype, backend in zip(self.keys(), self.values(), backends)
+            }
+
+    def to_polars(self: Self) -> pl.Schema:
+        """Convert Schema to a polars Schema.
+
+        Returns:
+            A polars Schema or plain dict (prior to polars 1.0).
+
+        Examples:
+            >>> import narwhals as nw
+            >>> schema = nw.Schema({"a": nw.Int64(), "b": nw.Datetime("ns")})
+            >>> schema.to_polars()
+            Schema({'a': Int64, 'b': Datetime(time_unit='ns', time_zone=None)})
+        """
+        import polars as pl  # ignore-banned-import
+
+        from narwhals._polars.utils import narwhals_to_native_dtype
+
+        schema = (
+            (name, narwhals_to_native_dtype(dtype, self._version))
+            for name, dtype in self.items()
+        )
+        if parse_version(pl.__version__) >= (1, 0, 0):
+            return pl.Schema(schema)
+        return cast("pl.Schema", dict(schema))  # pragma: no cover
diff --git a/narwhals/stable/v1/__init__.py b/narwhals/stable/v1/__init__.py
index 5aefefe2..416e876a 100644
--- a/narwhals/stable/v1/__init__.py
+++ b/narwhals/stable/v1/__init__.py
@@ -1067,6 +1067,8 @@ class Schema(NwSchema):
             *instantiated* Narwhals data type. Accepts a mapping or an iterable of tuples.
     """
 
+    _version = Version.V1
+
 
 @overload
 def _stableify(obj: NwDataFrame[IntoFrameT]) -> DataFrame[IntoFrameT]: ...
@@ -2186,12 +2188,7 @@ def from_dict(
         backend, native_namespace, emit_deprecation_warning=False
     )
     return _stableify(  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
-        _from_dict_impl(
-            data,
-            schema,
-            backend=backend,
-            version=Version.V1,
-        )
+        _from_dict_impl(data, schema, backend=backend)
     )
 
 
diff --git a/narwhals/typing.py b/narwhals/typing.py
index a636285e..3a6e0d26 100644
--- a/narwhals/typing.py
+++ b/narwhals/typing.py
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ Examples:
     ...     return s.abs().to_native()
 """
 
+DTypeBackend: TypeAlias = 'Literal["pyarrow", "numpy_nullable"] | None'
 SizeUnit: TypeAlias = Literal[
     "b",
     "kb",


Test patch:
diff --git a/tests/frame/schema_test.py b/tests/frame/schema_test.py
index 1590e4a1..33cfadb5 100644
--- a/tests/frame/schema_test.py
+++ b/tests/frame/schema_test.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import re
 from datetime import date
 from datetime import datetime
 from datetime import timedelta
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@ import narwhals.stable.v1 as nw
 from tests.utils import PANDAS_VERSION
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Sequence
+
+    from narwhals.typing import DTypeBackend
     from tests.utils import Constructor
     from tests.utils import ConstructorEager
 
@@ -330,3 +334,99 @@ def test_all_nulls_pandas() -> None:
         nw.from_native(pd.Series([None] * 3, dtype="object"), series_only=True).dtype
         == nw.Object
     )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("dtype_backend", "expected"),
+    [
+        (
+            None,
+            {"a": "int64", "b": str, "c": "bool", "d": "float64", "e": "datetime64[ns]"},
+        ),
+        (
+            "pyarrow",
+            {
+                "a": "Int64[pyarrow]",
+                "b": "string[pyarrow]",
+                "c": "boolean[pyarrow]",
+                "d": "Float64[pyarrow]",
+                "e": "timestamp[ns][pyarrow]",
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            "numpy_nullable",
+            {
+                "a": "Int64",
+                "b": "string",
+                "c": "boolean",
+                "d": "Float64",
+                "e": "datetime64[ns]",
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            [
+                "numpy_nullable",
+                "pyarrow",
+                None,
+                "pyarrow",
+                "numpy_nullable",
+            ],
+            {
+                "a": "Int64",
+                "b": "string[pyarrow]",
+                "c": "bool",
+                "d": "Float64[pyarrow]",
+                "e": "datetime64[ns]",
+            },
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_schema_to_pandas(
+    dtype_backend: DTypeBackend | Sequence[DTypeBackend] | None, expected: dict[str, Any]
+) -> None:
+    schema = nw.Schema(
+        {
+            "a": nw.Int64(),
+            "b": nw.String(),
+            "c": nw.Boolean(),
+            "d": nw.Float64(),
+            "e": nw.Datetime("ns"),
+        }
+    )
+    assert schema.to_pandas(dtype_backend) == expected
+
+
+def test_schema_to_pandas_strict_zip() -> None:
+    schema = nw.Schema(
+        {
+            "a": nw.Int64(),
+            "b": nw.String(),
+            "c": nw.Boolean(),
+            "d": nw.Float64(),
+            "e": nw.Datetime("ns"),
+        }
+    )
+    dtype_backend: list[DTypeBackend] = ["numpy_nullable", "pyarrow", None]
+    tup = (
+        "numpy_nullable",
+        "pyarrow",
+        None,
+        "numpy_nullable",
+        "pyarrow",
+    )
+    suggestion = re.escape(f"({tup})")
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValueError,
+        match=re.compile(
+            rf".+3.+but.+schema contains.+5.+field.+Hint.+schema.to_pandas{suggestion}",
+            re.DOTALL,
+        ),
+    ):
+        schema.to_pandas(dtype_backend)
+
+
+def test_schema_to_pandas_invalid() -> None:
+    schema = nw.Schema({"a": nw.Int64()})
+    msg = "Expected one of {None, 'pyarrow', 'numpy_nullable'}, got: 'cabbage'"
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
+        schema.to_pandas("cabbage")  # type: ignore[arg-type]