🌐
w3resource
w3resource.com › numpy › array-creation › empty.php
NumPy: numpy.empty() function - w3resource
In the second example, an empty 2D array of size (2, 2) is created with the specified data type float. The resulting array contains four undefined floating-point values. The values shown in the output are also machine-dependent and may vary ...
🌐
Note.nkmk.me
note.nkmk.me › home › python › numpy
NumPy: Create an empty array (np.empty, np.empty_like) | note.nkmk.me
January 22, 2024 - The NumPy version used in this article is as follows. Note that functionality may vary between versions. ... To create an empty array specifying shape and data type (dtype), use np.empty().
Discussions

python - How do I create an empty array and then append to it in NumPy? - Stack Overflow
For creating an empty NumPy array without defining its shape you can do the following: ... The first one is preferred because you know you will be using this as a NumPy array. NumPy converts this to np.ndarray type afterward, without extra [] 'dimension'. ... Note that in the background for python ... More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
In Python in what ways can u make an empty NumPy array? - Stack Overflow
If by empty array, you mean an array with 0 dimensions, you can simply convert to a NumPy array an empty list: More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
How can I create a truly empty numpy array which can be merged onto (by a recursive function)?
I can't say I fully followed your problem statement, but you can create an array with a total size of zero if any of the dimensions has size zero: a = np.empty((0, 3)) # Doesn't really matter if you use `empty`, `zeros` or `ones` here Zero-size arrays are the neutral element wrt. concatenation along their zero-size dimension (if that's what you mean by "merging"): b = np.random.uniform(size=(20, 3)) c = np.concatenate([a, b], 0) (c == b).all() # True More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnpython
2
2
September 21, 2023
Trying to fill an empty numpy array with data
That looks like a csv file. Just use numpy's genfromtext function to read it. arr = np.genfromtxt(filename, dtype=int, delimiter=',') More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnpython
26
2
December 7, 2016
🌐
NumPy
numpy.org › devdocs › reference › generated › numpy.empty.html
numpy.empty — NumPy v2.6.dev0 Manual
Return a new array of given shape and type, without initializing entries. ... Shape of the empty array, e.g., (2, 3) or 2.
🌐
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › numpy-empty-python
numpy.empty() in Python - GeeksforGeeks
November 29, 2018 - numpy.empty(shape, dtype = float, order = 'C') : Return a new array of given shape and type, with random values. Parameters : -> shape : Number of rows -> order : C_contiguous or F_contiguous -> dtype : [optional, float(by Default)] Data type ...
🌐
Python Guides
pythonguides.com › python-numpy-empty-array
Create An Empty Array Using NumPy In Python
May 7, 2025 - The signature is in the numpy.empty reference. Because it never clears the memory. You sometimes see zeros only because fresh pages from the operating system arrive zeroed, which is not something you can rely on. Only in the middle of the range. At 10,000 elements it is around 5x faster, but at a million they are the same, because the operating system supplies pre-zeroed pages. Use np.empty((0, cols)) so vstack has the right shape. Better still, build a Python list and call np.array() once at the end.
🌐
Programiz
programiz.com › python-programming › numpy › methods › empty
NumPy empty() | Programiz
August 30, 2023 - Example import numpy as np # create an array of uninitialized values array1 = np.empty(5) print(array1) # Output: [2.23196843e-316 0.00000000e+000 6.94042595e-310 6.94042589e-310 6.94042589e-310] The resultant array has uninitialized or arbitrary ...
🌐
Sharp Sight
sharpsight.ai › blog › numpy-empty
How to Use Numpy Empty - Sharp Sight
February 6, 2024 - This tutorial will show you how to use the NumPy empty function to create an empty NumPy array. It explains the syntax of np.empty and gives code examples.
🌐
Delft Stack
delftstack.com › "delft stack" › "howto" › "python numpy howtos" › "how to create empty numpy array"
How to Create Empty NumPy Array | Delft Stack
March 11, 2025 - import numpy as np # Create an empty NumPy array of shape (3, 4) empty_array_empty = np.empty((3, 4)) print(empty_array_empty) ... In this example, we again create a 3x4 array. However, the values that appear in the output are not guaranteed ...
Find elsewhere
🌐
TutorialsPoint
tutorialspoint.com › numpy › numpy_empty_function.htm
Numpy empty() Function
Following is a basic example to create an Numpy array with unintialized values using Numpy numpy.empty() function −
Top answer
1 of 16
612

That is the wrong mental model for using NumPy efficiently. NumPy arrays are stored in contiguous blocks of memory. To append rows or columns to an existing array, the entire array needs to be copied to a new block of memory, creating gaps for the new elements to be stored. This is very inefficient if done repeatedly.

Instead of appending rows, allocate a suitably sized array, and then assign to it row-by-row:

>>> import numpy as np

>>> a = np.zeros(shape=(3, 2))
>>> a
array([[ 0.,  0.],
       [ 0.,  0.],
       [ 0.,  0.]])

>>> a[0] = [1, 2]
>>> a[1] = [3, 4]
>>> a[2] = [5, 6]

>>> a
array([[ 1.,  2.],
       [ 3.,  4.],
       [ 5.,  6.]])
2 of 16
150

A NumPy array is a very different data structure from a list and is designed to be used in different ways. Your use of hstack is potentially very inefficient... every time you call it, all the data in the existing array is copied into a new one. (The append function will have the same issue.) If you want to build up your matrix one column at a time, you might be best off to keep it in a list until it is finished, and only then convert it into an array.

e.g.


mylist = []
for item in data:
    mylist.append(item)
mat = numpy.array(mylist)

item can be a list, an array or any iterable, as long as each item has the same number of elements.
In this particular case (data is some iterable holding the matrix columns) you can simply use


mat = numpy.array(data)

(Also note that using list as a variable name is probably not good practice since it masks the built-in type by that name, which can lead to bugs.)

EDIT:

If for some reason you really do want to create an empty array, you can just use numpy.array([]), but this is rarely useful!

🌐
Educative
educative.io › answers › how-to-create-an-empty-numpy-array
How to create an empty NumPy array
numpy.zeros(shape, dtype=float, order='C') numpy.empty(shape, dtype=float, order='C') # Shape -> Shape of the new array, e.g., (2, 3) or 2. # dtype -> The desired data-type for the array,e.g., numpy.int8.
🌐
EDUCBA
educba.com › home › software development › software development tutorials › numpy tutorial › numpy empty array
NumPy empty array | How does Empty Array Work in NumPy?
May 22, 2023 - Python provides different functions to the users. To work with arrays, the Python library provides a numpy empty array function. It is used to create a new empty array as per user instruction means giving data type and shape of the array without initializing elements.
Address: Unit no. 202, Jay Antariksh Bldg, Makwana Road, Marol, Andheri (East),, 400059, Mumbai
🌐
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › numpy › how-to-create-an-empty-and-a-full-numpy-array
How to create an empty and a full NumPy array - GeeksforGeeks
September 19, 2025 - numpy.empty(shape, dtype=float, order='C') Parameters: shape (tuple of int): Shape of the new array · dtype (data-type, optional): data type of the array (default is float). order ({'C', 'F'}, optional): Memory layout.
🌐
Codegive
codegive.com › blog › numpy_make_an_empty_array.php
Numpy make an empty array
To create an empty NumPy array, use np.empty(shape, dtype=float, order='C'). This allocates memory for an array of the specified shape and data type without initializing its contents, making it extremely fast for pre-allocation when you plan to fill the array later.
🌐
NumPy
numpy.org › doc › 1.25 › reference › generated › numpy.empty.html
numpy.empty — NumPy v1.25 Manual
On the other hand, it requires the user to manually set all the values in the array, and should be used with caution. ... >>> np.empty([2, 2]) array([[ -9.74499359e+001, 6.69583040e-309], [ 2.13182611e-314, 3.06959433e-309]]) #uninitialized
🌐
AskPython
askpython.com › python-modules › numpy › numpy-empty-and-empty_like
NumPy empty and empty_like - AskPython
October 4, 2026 - An array returned by np.empty((2, 3)) has six elements even before they are initialized. The shape determines the number of allocated entries. It does not decide whether those entries have been assigned meaningful values. python3 -c 'import ...
Top answer
1 of 2
1

If by empty array, you mean an array with 0 dimensions, you can simply convert to a NumPy array an empty list:

import numpy as np

np.array([])
# array([], dtype=float64)

or use any of the NumPy's initialization functions with a (0,) or 0 shape, e.g.:

np.zeros((0,))
# array([], dtype=float64)

np.ones((0,))
# array([], dtype=float64)

np.empty((0,))
# array([], dtype=float64)

np.full((0,), 0.0)                                                                          
# array([], dtype=float64)

etc.


If by empty you mean an array of given size but not initialized (i.e. you only ask the OS for the required memory), you can use np.empty() specifying the size you need, e.g.:

np.empty((2, 3))
# array([[1.46643506e-316, 0.00000000e+000, 0.00000000e+000],
#        [0.00000000e+000, 0.00000000e+000, 0.00000000e+000]])
2 of 2
0

There are two ways an empty NumPy array can be created: numpy.zeros and numpy.empty.

The syntax for using numpy.zeros and numpy.empty is shown below:

numpy.zeros(shape, dtype=float, order='C')
numpy.empty(shape, dtype=float, order='C')

# Shape -> Shape of the new array, e.g., (2, 3) or 2.

# dtype -> The desired data-type for the array,e.g., numpy.int8. Default is numpy.float64. This parameter is optional.

# order -> Indicates whether multi-dimensional data should be stored in row-major (C-style) or column-major (Fortran-style) order in memory. This parameter is optional.

how to use numpy.zeros to create an empty NumPy array:

import numpy as np
myArr = np.zeros((2,3))
print(myArr)

how to use numpy.empty to create an empty NumPy array:

import numpy as np
myArr = np.empty((2,3))
print(myArr)

numpy.empty, unlike numpy.zeros, does not set the array values to zero and, ​therefore, may be marginally faster. On the other hand, it requires the user to manually set all the values in the array ​and should be used with caution.

🌐
Python Help
pythonhelp.org › numpy › how-to-create-an-empty-numpy-array
Creating an Empty NumPy Array
This line imports the `numpy` library and assigns it a shorter alias `np`, which is commonly used in NumPy-related code. 2. **Create an Empty Array:** ```python empty_array = np.empty(0)
🌐
w3resource
w3resource.com › numpy › array-creation › empty_like.php
NumPy: numpy.empty_like() function - w3resource
April 20, 2026 - In the second example, an input array "a" is defined as a 2D NumPy array with float values. The numpy.empty_like(a) function creates an empty NumPy array with the same shape and data type as the input array "a".