Convert spark dataframe to Array[String]

Question

Can any tell me how to convert Spark dataframe into Array[String] in scala.

I have used the following.

x =df.select(columns.head, columns.tail: _*).collect()

The above snippet gives me an Array[Row] and not Array[String]

Answer 1

This should do the trick:

df.select(columns: _*).collect.map(_.toSeq)

Answer 2

DataFrame to Array[String]

data.collect.map(_.toSeq).flatten

You can also use the following

data.collect.map(row=>row.getString(0)) 

If you have more columns then it is good to use the last one

 data.rdd.map(row=>row.getString(0)).collect

Answer 3

If you are planning to read the dataset line by line, then you can use the iterator over the dataset:

 Dataset<Row>csv=session.read().format("csv").option("sep",",").option("inferSchema",true).option("escape, "\"").option("header", true).option("multiline",true).load(users/abc/....);

for(Iterator<Row> iter = csv.toLocalIterator(); iter.hasNext();) {
    String[] item = ((iter.next()).toString().split(",");    
}