How can I improve the performance of merge and join operations in Pandas?

How can I improve the performance of merge and join operations in Pandas?

To improve performance, consider using the merge method with appropriate parameters, like on, left_on, and right_on.

Are there specific data types that can speed up these operations?

Yes, using categorical data types for columns involved in joins can significantly enhance performance.

What about using indexes? Do they help?

Absolutely! Setting indexes on the columns used for merging can greatly reduce the time taken for join operations.

Can you suggest any best practices for large datasets?

For large datasets, consider chunking your data, using efficient data types, and filtering unnecessary columns before merging.