A "replace" or "map" kernel to replace values in array based on mapping. This would be similar as the pandas Series.replace (or Series.map) kernel, and as a small illustration of what is meant:

In [41]: s = pd.Series(["Yes", "Y", "No", "N"])

In [42]: s
Out[42]: 
0    Yes
1      Y
2     No
3      N
dtype: object

In [43]: s.replace({"Y": "Yes", "N": "No"})
Out[43]: 
0    Yes
1    Yes
2     No
3     No
dtype: object

Note: in pandas the difference between "replace" and "map" is that replace will only replace a value if it is present in the mapping, while map will replace every value in the input array with the corresponding value in the mapping and return null if not present in the mapping. This different behaviour could maybe be triggered with a keyword.

Note, this is different from ARROW-10306 which is about string replacement within array elements (replacing a substring in each string element in the array), while here it is about replacing full elements of the array)

cc @maartenbreddels

Reporter: Joris Van den Bossche / @jorisvandenbossche

Related issues:

• [C++] Add "replace" kernel (is related to)

_{Note: This issue was originally created as ARROW-10641. Please see the migration documentation for further details.}