How to read csv file in python.
Tags: python, tutorial, newbie, devops
Published: 2021-01-20 00:33:51

## Reading csv file
so how do we open and read csv file in python. before we proceed in to that i would advise you to read how to open and read file if you are new here so that you can understand better. so let's go into the lesson.
### What is CSV ?
CSV means Comma Separated Values.it  is the commonest import and export format for spreadsheets and databases which are always used as exchange of data between applications and popular data format in Data Science.
A CSV file stores data in a tabular form i.e each data field is separated by a delimiter(comma in most cases). for all csv file, it must be saved with the `.csv` file extension.
### how to open CSV file.
To open csv file nothing diffferent from the way you open text file you can click here if you had no experience on how to open or read file before. So we open CSV file using `open()` function so we can set the mode to 'r' so that the file we open will be ready for reading or not even bother as open() is in 'r' mode at default. 
#### Example 
let say we have a csv file named payroll.csv looking like the following.
**Payroll.csv**
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/jpzk0zs0708csj69oma4.JPG)
so the file above can be open for reading with the following code.
```python
csvFile=open('payroll.csv','r')
```
another way to open the file is using open the file with the `with` keyword like the following.
```python
with open('payroll.csv','r') as csvFile
```
the code above do the same thing as the previous one and it is even the better as you don't need to close file the file when you are done.
### how to Reading from CSV file
After open the csv for for reading, Before we read the csv file we need to import a python module called csv for the handling of CSV files and the reader class from the module  for reading data from a CSV file.

#### Example
```python
import csv
csvFile= open('payroll.csv', 'r') # opening the CSV file 
the_file=csvFile.reader(file) # reading the CSV file  
for rows in the_file:
    print(rows)# displaying the contents of the CSV file
```
**Output:**
```
['EMPL Number', 'EMPL Name', 'Hourly Rate', 'Hours Worked', 'Gross Pay', 'S.S Tax', 'Net Pay']
['E00001', 'Ford', '7.5', '35', '262.5', '15.75', '4134.375']
['E00002', 'Mino', '8', '30', '240', '14.4', '3456']
['E00003', 'Bell', '6.5', '25', '162.5', '9.75', '1584.375']
['E00004', 'Davis', '9', '40', '360', '21.6', '7776']
['E00005', 'Turro', '10', '39', '390', '23.4', '9126']
```
another way of writing the code is :

```python
import csv     
# opening the CSV file  
with open('payroll.csv', 'r') as csvfile:  
      
  # reading the CSV file  
 the_file = csv.reader(file)  
    
  # displaying the contents of the CSV file  
  for rows in the_file:  
        print(rows) 
 ```
**Output:**
```
['EMPL Number', 'EMPL Name', 'Hourly Rate', 'Hours Worked', 'Gross Pay', 'S.S Tax', 'Net Pay']
['E00001', 'Ford', '7.5', '35', '262.5', '15.75', '4134.375']
['E00002', 'Mino', '8', '30', '240', '14.4', '3456']
['E00003', 'Bell', '6.5', '25', '162.5', '9.75', '1584.375']
['E00004', 'Davis', '9', '40', '360', '21.6', '7776']
['E00005', 'Turro', '10', '39', '390', '23.4', '9126']
```
we just read the csv file. did you find it interesting? consider to follow me so that you don't miss the next lesson. keep on coding it is fun.