Pandas - df.compare() how to change self/other labels?

Question

Using df.compare in Pandas, is it possible to change the labels of self/other from the output?

I need to send this output directly to less technically savvy users and would like to change them to more descriptive labels.

My code:

  if df_1.equals(df_2):
    return None
  else:
    return df_1.compare(df_2, align_axis=0)

Answer 1

You can rename the index level to something more obvious:

df1 = pd.DataFrame([[1,2,3,4], [1,2,3,4]])
df2 = pd.DataFrame([[1,2,5,4], [5,2,3,1]])

df1.compare(df2, align_axis=0).rename(index={'self': 'left', 'other': 'right'}, level=-1)

           0    2    3
0 left   NaN  3.0  NaN
  right  NaN  5.0  NaN
1 left   1.0  NaN  4.0
  right  5.0  NaN  1.0