What are common transformation operations (e.g., filtering, aggregating, joining)?

Transformation operations are essential for reshaping and preparing data for analysis or storage. Three common operations are filtering, aggregating, and joining. Filtering selects a subset of data based on specific conditions. Aggregating summarizes data by grouping and applying functions like sum or average. Joining merges datasets by matching values in key columns. These operations form the backbone of data processing in tools like SQL, pandas, or Spark, enabling developers to clean, organize, and combine data efficiently.

Filtering reduces dataset size by including only rows that meet criteria. For example, in SQL, SELECT * FROM orders WHERE total > 100 retrieves orders over $100. In Python’s pandas, df[df['status'] == 'active'] filters rows where the status is “active.” Filtering is often used to remove irrelevant data, handle missing values, or focus on specific time ranges. Aggregating compresses data into summaries. A SQL query like SELECT department, AVG(salary) FROM employees GROUP BY department calculates average salaries per department. In pandas, df.groupby('category')['price'].sum() sums prices by category. Aggregations are critical for generating reports, calculating metrics, or identifying trends.

Joining combines datasets using shared keys. For instance, an inner join in SQL (SELECT * FROM customers JOIN orders ON customers.id = orders.customer_id) merges customer and order data where IDs match. In pandas, pd.merge(users, transactions, on='user_id') links user and transaction tables. Joins can be inner, left, right, or full, depending on how unmatched rows are handled. This operation is vital for enriching data—like linking product details to sales records—or consolidating information from multiple sources. Together, filtering, aggregating, and joining enable developers to transform raw data into structured, actionable formats.