Python Features Overview

Python Features

• Python was created by Guido van Rossum at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science in the Netherlands between 1985 and 1990.
• It is a high-level, interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, and general-purpose programming language.
• Python's source code is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
• Key Features:
  • Simple and easy to learn, with a clear and concise syntax.
  • Interpreted, meaning code is executed line by line without needing to compile it first.
  • Supports interactive mode, which allows for testing and debugging code in real-time.
  • Object-oriented, allowing for code organization using objects and classes.
  • Portable, running on various hardware and software platforms with a consistent interface.
  • Scalable, providing efficient structure for large programs.
  • Extendable, enabling programmers to add low-level modules for customization.
  • Dynamic, supporting dynamic typing and automatic garbage collection.
  • Suitable for GUI Programming and Databases, with libraries for creating GUI applications and interacting with databases.
  • Has a broad standard library, providing tools for diverse applications.

Running Python

• There are three ways to run Python:
  • Interactive Interpreter: Accessing the Python interpreter directly to execute code interactively.
  • Script from Command Line: Executing Python scripts (files with .py extension) from the command line.
  • Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Using a specialized environment like PyCharm or VS Code for writing and executing Python code.

Identifiers and Keywords

• Identifiers are names used to identify variables, functions, classes, modules, etc.
• Reserved Keywords are words that have special meaning in the Python language and cannot be used as identifiers.

Variables and Comments

• Variables are used to store data in Python. Assign a value to a variable using the assignment operator (=).
• Comments are lines of text that are ignored by the interpreter; they are used to add explanations or notes to the code.

Indentation and Code Structure

• Indentation is crucial in Python. It defines blocks of code and is used to denote program structure.
• Multi-Line Statements can be split across multiple lines using a backslash ().
• Multiple Statement Group (Suite) are blocks of statements that are executed together.
• Quotes in Python are used to represent strings (text). Use single ('), double ("), or triple (''') quotes.

Input/Output Functions

• Python provides built-in functions for input and output:
  • Displaying Output: The print() function is used to display output to the console.
  • Reading Input: The input() function takes input from the user and returns it as a string.
  • Import Function: The import keyword allows programs to use functions and classes defined in other modules.

Operators

• Operators are symbols that perform operations on values.
• Arithmetic Operators: Perform basic arithmetic operations (+, -, *, /, %, **, //).
• Relational Operators: Compare values and return a Boolean result (==, !=, >, <, >=, <=).
• Assignment Operators: Assign values to variables (=, +=, -=, *=, /=, %=, //=, **=).
• Logical Operators: Combine Boolean expressions (and, or, not).
• Bitwise Operators: Operate on individual bits (|, &, ^, ~, <<, >>).
• Membership Operators: Check if a value is present in a sequence (in, not in).
• Identity Operators: Check if two objects are identical (is, is not).

Operator Precedence and Associativity

• Operator Precedence: Determines the order in which operators are evaluated in an expression. Higher precedence operators are evaluated first.
• Operator Associativity: Determines how operators of the same precedence are grouped.
  • Left-associative: Operators are evaluated from left to right.
  • Right-associative: Operators are evaluated from right to left.

This quiz covers the key features of Python, the high-level programming language created by Guido van Rossum. Explore its simplicity, interpretive nature, object-oriented capabilities, and how it supports various programming environments. Test your knowledge on what makes Python a versatile choice for developers.