numpy.ndarray vs pandas.DataFrame

Question

I need to make a strategic decision about choice of the basis for data structure holding statistical data frames in my program.

I store hundreds of thousands of records

Answer 1

pandas.DataFrame is awesome, and interacts very well with much of numpy. Much of the DataFrame is written in Cython and is quite optimized. I suspect the ease of use and the richness of the Pandas API will greatly outweigh any potential benefit you could obtain by rolling your own interfaces around numpy.