import pandas as pd

import pandas as pd serves two functions. First, import pandas tells Python to import the pandas library into the current programming environment. Second, as pd tells Python that you want to give a nickname pd for pandas. That is, pd will be alias for pandas.

Example 1: Use import pandas as pd

# we import the pandas library and give it a nickname pd
import pandas as pd

# use the function of DataFrame()
df=pd.DataFrame({'Brand': ['Tesla', 'Ford'], 'Count': [3, 4]})
print(df)
   Brand  Count
0  Tesla      3
1   Ford      4

Note that, after using import pandas as pd, you can not use pandas.DataFrame(). The code below shows that it will have an error message of “name ‘pandas’ is not defined“.

import pandas as pd

df=pandas.DataFrame({'Brand': ['Tesla', 'Ford'], 'Count': [3, 4]})
print(df)
NameError: name 'pandas' is not defined

Example 2: Use import pandas

If you do not want to use pd, you can just use the full name of pandas in your code. Below is the example of using import pandas.

# we import the pandas library
import pandas 

# use the function of DataFrame()
df=pandas.DataFrame({'Brand': ['Tesla', 'Ford'], 'Count': [3, 4]})
print(df)
   Brand  Count
0  Tesla      3
1   Ford      4

Example 3: Use both pandas and pd at the same time

If you want to use both pandas and pd at the same time, you need to use both import pandas as pd and import pandas. Below is the example showing that. 

# write out two statements
import pandas as pd
import pandas

# Using 'pd.DataFrame'
df_1=pd.DataFrame({'Brand': ['Tesla', 'Ford'], 'Count': [3, 4]})
print("Using 'pd.DataFrame':\n",df_1)

# Using 'pandas.DataFrame'
df_2=pandas.DataFrame({'Brand': ['Tesla', 'Ford'], 'Count': [3, 4]})
print("Using 'pandas.DataFrame':\n",df_2)
Using 'pd.DataFrame':
    Brand  Count
0  Tesla      3
1   Ford      4
Using 'pandas.DataFrame':
    Brand  Count
0  Tesla      3
1   Ford      4

Further Reading