python csv reader, loop from the second row

Question

In python 2.7.3, how can I start the loop from the second row? eg

first_row = cvsreader.next();
for row in ???: #expect to begin the loop from second row
    blah...blah...

Answer 1

first_row = next(csvreader)  # Compatible with Python 3.x (also 2.7)
for row in csvreader:  # begins with second row
    # ...

Testing it really works:

>>> import csv
>>> csvreader = csv.reader(['first,second', '2,a', '3,b'])
>>> header = next(csvreader)
>>> for line in csvreader:
    print line
['2', 'a']
['3', 'b']

Answer 2

next(reader, None) # Don't raise exception if no line exists

looks most readable IMO

The other alternative is

from itertools import islice
for row in islice(reader, 1, None)

However shouldn't you be using the header? Consider a csv.DictReader which by default sets the fieldnames to the first line.

Answer 3

Assuming the 1st row contains the field names:

import csv
for field in csv.DictReader(open("./lists/SP500.csv", 'rb')):
    symbol = (field['ticker']).rstrip()