pandas DOC: Explain how to load data in Google Colab

Pandas version checks

[x] I have checked that the issue still exists on the latest versions of the docs on main here

Location of the documentation

https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/user_guide/io.html

Documentation problem

There doesn't seem to be an official cohesive explanation from pandas or Google on how to load data in a Google Colab environment. While it can be pieced together, I imagine Colab is a common runtime for pandas users, and thus it would be helpful to be explicit.

Suggested fix for documentation

I suggest we have a section on the IO page explaining how to load data to pandas in Google Colab. This would be equivalent to this page in the Polars documentation, or this section of my course site. (Would love to delete mine and link elsewhere.)

Google Colab has an official example notebook on IO, but it doesn't mention the pandas piece for most of the approaches. I've opened a corresponding issue there: https://github.com/googlecolab/colabtools/issues/5663. If they were to expand that notebook, maybe we link to it, at a minimum?

Oct 16 '25 02:10 afeld

hi i would be very interested to help with this, can you please assign it to me.

Oct 16 '25 07:10 Shubham-Jain52

hello i would like to contribute. Could you assign it to me

Oct 16 '25 18:10 arturkenzo

Done. FYI that in the future, you can do so yourself: https://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/stable/development/contributing.html#finding-an-issue-to-contribute-to

Oct 17 '25 01:10 afeld

@afeld FYI self-assigning is no longer possible. https://github.com/pandas-dev/pandas/issues/62561

Oct 20 '25 16:10 jill-augustine

Hi, I'm a new contributor participating in Hacktoberfest. This looks like a great first issue for me. Can I please be assigned and work on this?

Oct 21 '25 09:10 Rishabh-8755

Hello, i would like to contribute. Could you assign it to me as well.

Oct 21 '25 17:10 UnkownHunter

Hi @afeld, Very sorry to disturb you. Could you please guide me on how to use the doc/make.py file to generate the HTML files for previewing? I also wanted to check if I should include Kaggle in this process. This is my first pull request (#62791), and I would like to complete it correctly. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Oct 22 '25 14:10 UnkownHunter

Hi @afeld, I would like to contribute. Please assign to me if possible.

Oct 23 '25 16:10 alvinjaison

Could you please guide me on how to use the doc/make.py file to generate the HTML files for previewing?

@UnkownHunter most of the information necessary should be available in the docs. For this particular issue, you can build the documentation for IO with:

python make.py --single user_guide/io.rst html

It should open the page automatically, if it doesn't, you can navigate to build/html and open the HTML file, or open the index.html, also located in build/html.

Oct 27 '25 03:10 Alvaro-Kothe

Hi, I see this issue is assigned. If I can to collaborate or the current assignee is no longer working on it, I’d love to help or take over — please let me know!

Nov 07 '25 16:11 Tarek-mahmoud

hi @afeld , i want to work on this issue

Nov 13 '25 06:11 harsha08-2k6

Hi! I would like to know if this is still open? I would like to contribute if possible!

Nov 16 '25 15:11 harrold-mussa

Hi! I would like to know if this is still open? I would like to contribute if possible!

Have you gotten any response yet? I would like to contribute as well if it´s still open. :)

Nov 19 '25 02:11 Palaitox

Hi! I would like to know if this is still open? I would like to contribute if possible!

Have you gotten any response yet? I would like to contribute as well if it´s still open. :)

@Palaitox No response unfortunately.

Nov 19 '25 17:11 harrold-mussa

Hi @afeld, I’m interested in contributing to this issue and would love to help add documentation for loading data in Google Colab. If it’s still open or if collaboration is possible with the current assignees, I’d be happy to assist. Thank you!

Nov 25 '25 19:11 anirudhviswanath2001

Hi, I'm Interested in contributing to this issue if its still open and help is needed I would love to assist. Thank you

Dec 06 '25 07:12 GraveKeeper

is this issue still open

Dec 07 '25 13:12 Sir-ABD

Hi, I’m interested in working on this documentation issue. I’ve already set up the pandas dev environment and started exploring where to add a Google Colab section to user_guide/io.rst. Could you please confirm that this approach makes sense, and let me know if there are any specific guidelines or examples you’d like me to follow?

Dec 11 '25 14:12 sanchit122006

Hi, I’m new to contributing to Pandas and would like to work on this issue. Please let me know if I can proceed. Thanks!

Dec 13 '25 15:12 Atharv-navatre

Hi! @afeld, sorry to bother you. I’m a first-time contributor and I’d love to work on this issue if it’s available. Please let me know if that’s okay.

Dec 14 '25 14:12 Kalyani-Puranik

Hi @afeld , I would like to work on this as my first contribution. Could you please confirm it is still available?

Dec 17 '25 01:12 kundamnikhil

Hi, I’d like to work on this documentation update. Since the location is already specified , I can add a short subsection explaining how to load data in Google Colab, including file upload and Google Drive examples. Please let me know if that works

Dec 17 '25 18:12 Bibhuti2007