DF1

df1 is a common identifier used in programming and data processing. In many tutorials and notebooks, df1 denotes a DataFrame object—an in-memory tabular data structure with labeled axes. In Python’s pandas library, for example, a dataset loaded from a CSV file is often assigned to a variable named df1, such as df1 = pd.read_csv('data.csv'). In R, similar data structures are data frames, and df1 is likewise used as a conventional name for a first data frame. The exact name is arbitrary; clearer naming like data, sales_df, or customers can improve readability.

In other technical contexts, DF1 refers to a serial communication protocol used by certain programmable logic controllers (PLCs). DF1, sometimes written DF-1, is a legacy protocol primarily associated with older Rockwell Automation devices and related PLC families. It supports ASCII and binary framing and operates over serial links such as RS-232 or RS-485. The protocol follows a master-slave model with structured frames comprising addressing, commands, and data payloads, and includes basic mechanisms for error detection. Although still encountered in some industrial environments, DF1 has largely been superseded by more modern industrial Ethernet and protocol standards.

The term df1 can also appear in other domains as an abbreviation, and without context it is ambiguous. When encountering df1, identifying the domain—data analysis, programming, or industrial automation—clarifies the intended meaning.