Why converting time to index in pandas dataframe?

[fog37]

Hello,
When dealing with a dataframe with two columns, X and T where T is time, the time column is often converted to be the index of the dataframe itself (which by default is 0,1,2,3,...). What is the advantage of doing that? I know how to implement that but I am not sure what the main benefit is...

Thank you!

 

[FactChecker]

Hello,
When dealing with a dataframe with two columns, X and T where T is time, the time column is often converted to be the index of the dataframe itself (which by default is 0,1,2,3,...). What is the advantage of doing that? I know how to implement that but I am not sure what the main benefit is...

Thank you!

IF the time step is a constant, $\delta t$, then the times can be converted into a time step index. That is the way a time series is usually represented. In the usual time series analysis, the magnitude of the time step is not used in the analysis, as long as it is constant.