Declaring Item Loaders¶

Item Loaders are declared by using a class definition syntax. Here is an example:

from itemloaders import ItemLoader
from itemloaders.processors import TakeFirst, MapCompose, Join

class ProductLoader(ItemLoader):

    default_output_processor = TakeFirst()

    name_in = MapCompose(str.title)
    name_out = Join()

    # using a built-in processor
    price_in = MapCompose(str.strip)

    # using a function
    def price_out(self, values):
        return float(values[0])

loader = ProductLoader()
loader.add_value('name', 'plasma TV')
loader.add_value('price', '999.98')
loader.load_item()
# {'name': 'Plasma Tv', 'price': 999.98}

As you can see, input processors are declared using the _in suffix while output processors are declared using the _out suffix. And you can also declare a default input/output processors using the ItemLoader.default_input_processor and ItemLoader.default_output_processor attributes.

The precedence order, for both input and output processors, is as follows:

Item Loader field-specific attributes: field_in and field_out (most precedence)
Field metadata (input_processor and output_processor keys).

Check out itemadapter field metadata for more information.

Added in version 1.0.1.
Item Loader defaults: ItemLoader.default_input_processor() and ItemLoader.default_output_processor() (least precedence)