Numpy check if elements of array belong to another array

In this article we are going to see what are the convenience functions that can be used to check if elements of a 1D array exists in another 2D array or not

we will be just following these steps in order to check those elements belongs to another array:

1. Create a 1D array(X) and 2D array(Y)
2. Use numpy.isin() to return a boolean array of the same shape as Y that is True where an element of Y is in X and False otherwise
3. Use numpy.in1d() to test whether each element of a 1-D array X is also present in a second array Y
4. Index of Y where the elements match with the 1D array X

Let’s get started

Create a 1D array X and 2D array Y

Let’s create a 1D array X using numpy random to generate random integers of size 4 and create a second 2D array with random integers of shape 4x4

x = np.random.randint(0, 9, size=(4))
x

Out: array([6, 4, 2, 7])

y=np.random.randint(0, 9, size=(4, 4))
y

Out: 
array([[5, 8, 7, 8],
       [3, 2, 2, 3],
       [6, 0, 3, 7],
       [8, 6, 0, 3]])              

We will check if elements in X belongs to array Y or not

Use numpy.isin() to find elements in 1D array X exists in 2D array Y

numpy.isin() is an element-wise function version of the python keyword in. It calculates element in array X, broadcasting over 2D array Y only. Returns a boolean array of the same shape as 2D array Y that is True where an element of element is in 1D array X and False otherwise

In the output boolean array you can see all the positions where elements from 1D array exists is set as True and False otherwise

np.isin(Y, X)

Out: 
array([[False, False,  True, False],
       [False,  True,  True, False],
       [ True, False, False,  True],
       [False,  True, False, False]])            

You can also invert the test by setting invert parameter to True

np.isin(Y, X, invert=True)

Out: 
array([[ True,  True, False,  True],
       [ True, False, False,  True],
       [False,  True,  True, False],
       [ True, False,  True,  True]])            

We can also check which all elements in 2D array Y belongs to 1D array X by just changing the position of X and Y in the isin() function. In this case a 1D array of shape X is returned

np.isin(X, Y)

Out: 
array([ True, False,  True,  True])           

Use numpy.in1d() to find elements in 1D array X exists in 2D array Y

numpy.in1d() tests whether each element of a 1-D array is also present in a second array.

Returns a boolean array the same length as X that is True where an element of X is in Y and False otherwise.

Numpy official documentation recommends using isin() over in1d()

np.in1d(X, Y)

Out: 
array([ True, False,  True,  True])           

Find index of the elements of 1D array X in 2D array Y

we have seen so far all the functions that gives us a boolean array to test if element of one array exists in another array or not.

What next? how can you find the indices of all those elements in 1D array in the 2D array

You can use numpy.where() along with numpy.isin() as shown below

np.where(np.isin(y,x))

Out: 
(array([0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3]), array([2, 1, 2, 0, 3, 1]))          

Or, pass the boolean output of numpy.isin() in numpy.nonzero() to return the index of elements in 2d array Y that matches the element in 1D array X

boolean_mask = np.isin(Y, X)
boolean_mask

Out: 
array([[False, False,  True, False],
       [False,  True,  True, False],
       [ True, False, False,  True],
       [False,  True, False, False]])            

Get index where the elements are true in above mask

np.nonzero(boolean_mask)

(array([0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3]), array([2, 1, 2, 0, 3, 1]))

Conclusion:

Here is the brief summary of what we have learned in this post:

• Use numpy.isin() to find the elements of a array belongs to another array or not. it returns a boolean array matching the shape of other array where elements are to be searched
• numpy.isin() also inverts the result by using invert parameter and setting it up as True
• For a 1D test array we can also use in1d() to check whether the elements of 1D array belongs to another array
• Use numpy.where() and numpy.isin() to get the index of all the matching elements in other array
• Alternatively, we can also use the boolean output of numpy.isin() in numpy.nonzero() to find the index of all matching elements