[ARROW-12492] [Python] Add an helper method to decode a DictionaryArray back to a plain Array

• Type: New Feature
• Status: Resolved
• Priority: Minor
• Resolution: Fixed
• Fix Version/s: 5.0.0
• Component/s: Python
• Labels: pull-request-available
• External issue URL: https://github.com/apache/arrow/issues/28257
• Assignee: Alessandro Molina
• Reporter: Alessandro Molina
• Created: 21/Apr/21 09:00
• Updated: 11/Jan/23 08:26
• Resolved: 26/Apr/21 18:11

Description

To create a DictionaryArray pyarrow currently offers the Array.dictionary_encode helper, but there is a lack of an obvious way to do the reverse. A DictionaryArray.decode helper could provide an immediate obvious solution to get back an unrolled Array from the dictionary encoded version.

Issue Links

• links to: GitHub Pull Request #10123