{"categories":[{"label":"Front-Ends","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/database-front-ends"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"Reads Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) into Python with zero-copy data exchange via the Arrow PyCapsule Interface, enabling direct use with compatible libraries without intermediate conversions.","skillfed_tags":["rust-backed","data-loading","arrow-native"],"use_cases":["Import Excel files into data pipelines where speed and memory efficiency are priorities.","Load Excel tables (named ranges) directly for structured data extraction.","Integrate Excel as a data source in applications requiring fast file reading.","Replace slower Excel readers in performance-sensitive batch processing jobs.","Access Excel data via the Arrow PyCapsule Interface for zero-copy integration."],"what_it_does":"fastexcel is a Python Excel reader written in Rust that prioritizes speed and memory efficiency. It reads .xlsx and .xls files and exposes data via the Arrow PyCapsule Interface, allowing zero-copy handoff to Arrow-compatible libraries. The core package is lightweight with only typing-extensions as a runtime dependency; optional extras add integration with external dataframe libraries.\n\nTypical use is to call read_excel() to open a file, load_sheet() or load_table() to select data, then access the raw Arrow interface via __arrow_c_schema__() and __arrow_c_array__(), or convert using library-specific methods. The PyCapsule design reduces dependency bloat when used with compatible consumers. Production-ready for Python; the free-threaded build remains experimental.","worth_installing":"Yes, if you need fast Excel reading and want to minimize dependencies. The package is production-ready, actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers genuine performance gains over standard libraries. Install friction is moderate but manageable via prebuilt wheels. Not necessary if you rarely read Excel or have no performance constraints."},"id":"fastexcel","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/fastexcel","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/fastexcel.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/fastexcel/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2026-05-04","license_spdx":null,"license_treatment":"permissive","name":"fastexcel","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"A fast excel file reader for Python, written in Rust"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":3262951,"position":2680,"tier":"top_5000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"0.20.2"}