Python introduction and core features

Summary

Python is a popular, beginner-friendly programming language created by Guido van Rossum and released in 1991. It is widely used for server-side web development, software development, mathematics, system scripting, connecting to databases, and working with big data. Python can support both rapid prototyping and production-ready development, and it runs on many platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi. A major reason Python is approachable is its simple, readable syntax. Python 3 is the current major version used in the tutorial, and code is typically written in a text editor or an IDE such as Thonny, PyCharm, NetBeans, or Eclipse. Python’s syntax differs from many other languages by using new lines to end commands and using indentation (whitespace) to define scope for constructs like loops, functions, and classes. Python also supports multiple programming styles, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional approaches.

Key Points

• 1

  Python is used for web development, software development, scripting, mathematics, and data/big-data tasks.

• 2

  Python 3 is the version used, and code can be written in a text editor or an IDE.

• 3

  Python’s readability comes from English-like syntax, command completion via new lines, and scope defined by indentation rather than curly braces.

• 4

  Python supports procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming styles.