GH-48972: [Python] Add errors='coerce' parameter to pyarrow.compute.cast #48994
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added 2 commits
January 19, 2026 17:32
…able function - Add errors parameter to cast() function with 'raise' (default) and 'coerce' options - errors='coerce' converts invalid values to null instead of raising errors - Add errors parameter to Array.cast(), Scalar.cast(), and ChunkedArray.cast() instance methods - Verify is_castable() function is properly exposed and working - Add comprehensive tests including the exact example from issue apache#48972 - Update documentation with examples showing errors='coerce' usage This addresses issue apache#48972 by providing pandas.to_numeric(errors='coerce') equivalent functionality in PyArrow.
shashbha14
requested review from
AlenkaF,
assignUser,
jonkeane,
kou,
raulcd and
rok
as code owners
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Rationale for this change
Currently,
pyarrow.compute.cast()raises an exception when encountering values that cannot be cast to the target type. This PR adds anerrorsparameter (similar topandas.to_numeric(errors='coerce')) to allow gracefully handling cast failures by converting them to null values.What changes are included in this PR?
errorsparameter tocast()function with options'raise'(default) and'coerce'errors='coerce', setsCastOptions.null_on_error = Trueto produce nulls for invalid castsis_castable()meta-function to check element-wise castabilitytest_coerce_cast.pyAre these changes tested?
Yes, added extensive tests covering:
safeparameterarray.cast(),chunked_array.cast())Are there any user-facing changes?
Yes - new
errorsparameter forpyarrow.compute.cast()and newis_castable()function.is_castablefunction and/orerrors=coerceoption tocast#48972