What is the difference between join and merge in pandas?

What is the difference between join and merge in pandas?

In pandas, both join and merge are used to combine DataFrames, but they have different use cases. Join is primarily used for combining DataFrames based on their index, while merge is more flexible and allows you to combine DataFrames based on columns.

Can you give me an example of how to use both?

Sure! For join, you can use df1.join(df2) to join two DataFrames on their indices. For merge, you can use pd.merge(df1, df2, on='key_column') to merge them based on a specific column.

Are there any performance differences between them?

Yes, generally, join is faster when combining DataFrames on their indices, while merge can be slower due to its flexibility in combining on columns.

When should I use one over the other?

Use join when you want to combine DataFrames based on their indices and merge when you need to combine them based on specific columns.