THE PHYTHON TUTORIAL
INTRODUCTION:
Python is an easy to learn, powerful programming language. It has efficient high-
level data structures and a simple but effective approach to object-oriented
programming. Python’s elegant syntax and dynamic typing, together with its
interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting and rapid application
development in many areas on most platforms.
The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are freely available in
source or binary form for all major platforms and may be freely distributed. It contains
distributions of and pointers to many free third party Python modules, programs and
tools, and additional documentation.
The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data types
implemented in C or C++ (or other languages callable from C). Python is also
suitable as an extension language for customizable applications.
This tutorial introduces the reader informally to the basic concepts and features of
the Python language and system. It helps to have a Python interpreter handy for
hands-on experience, but all examples are self-contained, so the tutorial can be read
off-line as well.
For a description of standard objects and modules, see The Python Standard
Library. The Python Language Reference gives a more formal definition of the
language. To write extensions in C or C++, read Extending and Embedding the
Python Interpreter and Python/C API Reference Manual. There are also several
books covering Python in depth.
This tutorial does not attempt to be comprehensive and cover every single feature, or
even every commonly used feature. Instead, it introduces many of Python’s most
noteworthy features, and will give you a good idea of the language’s flavor and style.
After reading it, you will be able to read and write Python modules and programs,
and you will be ready to learn more about the various Python library modules
described in The Python Standard Library.
INTRODUCTION:
Python is an easy to learn, powerful programming language. It has efficient high-
level data structures and a simple but effective approach to object-oriented
programming. Python’s elegant syntax and dynamic typing, together with its
interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting and rapid application
development in many areas on most platforms.
The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are freely available in
source or binary form for all major platforms and may be freely distributed. It contains
distributions of and pointers to many free third party Python modules, programs and
tools, and additional documentation.
The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data types
implemented in C or C++ (or other languages callable from C). Python is also
suitable as an extension language for customizable applications.
This tutorial introduces the reader informally to the basic concepts and features of
the Python language and system. It helps to have a Python interpreter handy for
hands-on experience, but all examples are self-contained, so the tutorial can be read
off-line as well.
For a description of standard objects and modules, see The Python Standard
Library. The Python Language Reference gives a more formal definition of the
language. To write extensions in C or C++, read Extending and Embedding the
Python Interpreter and Python/C API Reference Manual. There are also several
books covering Python in depth.
This tutorial does not attempt to be comprehensive and cover every single feature, or
even every commonly used feature. Instead, it introduces many of Python’s most
noteworthy features, and will give you a good idea of the language’s flavor and style.
After reading it, you will be able to read and write Python modules and programs,
and you will be ready to learn more about the various Python library modules
described in The Python Standard Library.
