Python Pandas - Display specific number of rows from a DataFrame

To display specific number of rows from a DataFrame, use the head() function. Set the parameter to be the number of row records to be fetched. For example, for 10 rows, mention ?

dataFrame.head(10)

Basic Syntax

The head() method displays the first n rows of a DataFrame ?

DataFrame.head(n)

Where n is the number of rows to display. If not specified, it defaults to 5.

Creating Sample DataFrame

Let's create a sample DataFrame to demonstrate ?

import pandas as pd

# Create sample data
data = {
    'Car': ['Audi', 'Porsche', 'RollsRoyce', 'BMW', 'Mercedes', 
            'Lamborghini', 'Audi', 'Mercedes', 'Lamborghini'],
    'Place': ['Bangalore', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi', 'Hyderabad', 
              'Chandigarh', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi'],
    'UnitsSold': [80, 110, 100, 95, 80, 80, 100, 120, 100]
}

dataFrame = pd.DataFrame(data)
print("Complete DataFrame:")
print(dataFrame)
Complete DataFrame:
          Car       Place  UnitsSold
0        Audi   Bangalore         80
1     Porsche      Mumbai        110
2  RollsRoyce        Pune        100
3         BMW       Delhi         95
4    Mercedes   Hyderabad         80
5 Lamborghini  Chandigarh         80
6        Audi      Mumbai        100
7    Mercedes        Pune        120
8 Lamborghini       Delhi        100

Displaying Specific Number of Rows

First 5 Rows (Default)

By default, head() returns the first 5 rows ?

import pandas as pd

# Create sample data
data = {
    'Car': ['Audi', 'Porsche', 'RollsRoyce', 'BMW', 'Mercedes', 
            'Lamborghini', 'Audi', 'Mercedes', 'Lamborghini'],
    'Place': ['Bangalore', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi', 'Hyderabad', 
              'Chandigarh', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi'],
    'UnitsSold': [80, 110, 100, 95, 80, 80, 100, 120, 100]
}

dataFrame = pd.DataFrame(data)
print("First 5 rows:")
print(dataFrame.head())
First 5 rows:
          Car       Place  UnitsSold
0        Audi   Bangalore         80
1     Porsche      Mumbai        110
2  RollsRoyce        Pune        100
3         BMW       Delhi         95
4    Mercedes   Hyderabad         80

Custom Number of Rows

You can specify any number of rows to display ?

import pandas as pd

# Create sample data
data = {
    'Car': ['Audi', 'Porsche', 'RollsRoyce', 'BMW', 'Mercedes', 
            'Lamborghini', 'Audi', 'Mercedes', 'Lamborghini'],
    'Place': ['Bangalore', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi', 'Hyderabad', 
              'Chandigarh', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi'],
    'UnitsSold': [80, 110, 100, 95, 80, 80, 100, 120, 100]
}

dataFrame = pd.DataFrame(data)
print("First 3 rows:")
print(dataFrame.head(3))
print("\nFirst 7 rows:")
print(dataFrame.head(7))
First 3 rows:
          Car      Place  UnitsSold
0        Audi  Bangalore         80
1     Porsche     Mumbai        110
2  RollsRoyce       Pune        100

First 7 rows:
          Car       Place  UnitsSold
0        Audi   Bangalore         80
1     Porsche      Mumbai        110
2  RollsRoyce        Pune        100
3         BMW       Delhi         95
4    Mercedes   Hyderabad         80
5 Lamborghini  Chandigarh         80
6        Audi      Mumbai        100

Related Methods

For displaying rows from the end of DataFrame, use tail() ?

import pandas as pd

# Create sample data
data = {
    'Car': ['Audi', 'Porsche', 'RollsRoyce', 'BMW', 'Mercedes', 
            'Lamborghini', 'Audi', 'Mercedes', 'Lamborghini'],
    'Place': ['Bangalore', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi', 'Hyderabad', 
              'Chandigarh', 'Mumbai', 'Pune', 'Delhi'],
    'UnitsSold': [80, 110, 100, 95, 80, 80, 100, 120, 100]
}

dataFrame = pd.DataFrame(data)
print("Last 3 rows:")
print(dataFrame.tail(3))
Last 3 rows:
          Car   Place  UnitsSold
6        Audi  Mumbai        100
7    Mercedes    Pune        120
8 Lamborghini   Delhi        100

Conclusion

Use head(n) to display the first n rows of a DataFrame. It's useful for quickly inspecting your data without displaying the entire dataset.

Updated on: 2026-03-26T13:26:31+05:30

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