Python's user-friendly nature makes it the perfect starting point for beginners. Because Python's gentle learning curve ensures a smooth transition, you'll be able to learn to code in Python quickly, even if you switch to Python from another language.
Guido van Rossum created Python in 1991, and the Python Software Foundation further developed the language. Today, Python is a versatile, high-level programming language. So what sets Python apart? Its emphasis on code readability—which makes it a breeze to express your ideas using fewer lines of code.
Python is your friendly coding companion. It works seamlessly across various platforms, such as the following:
Windows
Mac
Linux
Raspberry Pi
What's cool about Python is its simple and English-like syntax. Using Python is like having a conversation with your computer!
Python doesn't waste time either. It runs on an interpreter system; which means you can see your code come to life as soon as you write it, making prototyping lightning fast.
You can use it in a procedural way, an object-oriented way, or even a functional way—whatever suits your style and the task at hand. It's the Swiss Army knife of programming languages!
Start Your Python Journey Now
This course uses an active learning approach to teach Python programming to beginners. You’ll interact with the code from the start, using everyday logic and fun challenges to build confidence. You will learn essential programming concepts through interactive examples and mini projects like input/output, decision-making, error handling, and simple logic. Whether new to coding or just starting with Python, this course provides the perfect foundation to develop your problem-solving skills and easily write your programs. More than anything else, this course aims to make you a lifelong learner and serve as a strong starting point for a successful career in computing. You don’t need any programming experience to begin.
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, and high-level language with dynamic semantics. It is free and open source. And thanks to its built-in data structures and dynamic prowess, Python is perfect for Rapid Application Development and scripting . It's your go-to for creating web apps, orchestrating workflows, and connecting to databases. Need to crunch big data or tackle complex math? Python's got your back. It is used for crafting rock-solid, production-ready software, too. Other applications of Python include the following:
Artificial intelligence
Natural language processing tasks
Development in the information security industry
Game Development
GUI-based desktop applications
Google, YouTube, Dropbox, Microsoft, Cisco, and Spotify are just some of the organizations that use Python. Some powerful features of Python include its sizable standard library, dynamic memory allocation, multiple library options, and ease of debugging. So, whether coding for fun or for a work project, you can trust Python. Now that you know what Python is used for, let's see how you should start learning.
Python was created in the 1980s by Guido Van Rossum at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in the Netherlands. Python was originally created to be a successor to the ABC language, which would be capable of exception handling and interfacing with the Amoeba operating system.
He was the sole person responsible for the Python project until July 12th, 2018. In January 2019, core developers elected Brett Cannon, Nick Coghlan, Barry Warsaw, Carol Willing, and Van Rossum to lead the project.
Python 2.0 was released on October 16th, 2000 with new features such as cycle-detecting garbage collector and support for Unicode. Python 3.0 was released on December 3rd, 2008.
Easy to learn and use: Because Python’s syntax is straightforward and generally similar to the English language, It is considered an easy language to learn. Python uses award semicolons and curly brackets to define the code block. As a high-level implementation, it is the recommended programming language for beginners.
Expressive: Python is able to perform complex tasks using just a few lines of code. For example, a hello world is simply one line: print("Hello World). While Python only takes one line to execute, a language like Java or C takes far more lines.
Interpreted Language: Python is an interpreted language, meaning that a Python program is executed line by line. An advantage of an interpreted language is that debugging is easy and portable.
Cross-platform language: Python can run equally on Windows, Linux, UNIX, macOS, etc., making it portable. This allows engineers to create software on competing platforms with one program.
Free and open source: Python is free and available to the general public. It has a massive worldwide community dedicated to creating more Python packages and functionality, with a dedicated team.
Object-oriented language: Python is an object-oriented programming language that uses classes and objects. It also allows functionality like inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation, which makes it easier for programmers to write reusable code.
While there are many versions of Python, the main comparison is Python 2 vs. Python 3. Python 3 was initially released in December 2008 and was designed to rectify some fundamental design flaws that Python 2 introduced.
The guiding principle of Python 3 was “reduce feature duplication by removing old ways of doing things.” Python 2 was created to support many ways of performing the same task.
Python 2:
Still entrenched in the software of many companies
Many of the older libraries for Python 2 are not forwards-compatible
Strings are stored as ASCII by default
Python 3:
Will take over Python 2 by 2020
More and more libraries are being created strictly for Python 2
Text strings are Unicode by default
Now, it’s clear that Python 3 is the popular choice, as the Python Software Foundation no longer supports Python 2. With this change, the community as a whole has largely shifted towards Python 3, meaning there is no reason to learn Python 2.
Start by taking a look at some simple code samples. It'll benefit you if you do this before starting any tutorial. You must be familiar with the command line or terminal, IDEs (integrated development environments), and text editors to simplify Python editing.
For an optimal user experience, check if your system fulfills the following hardware and software requirements:
Memory: A minimum of 4 GB of RAM is advisable, but having more is advantageous, especially when dealing with extensive datasets or resource-demanding applications.
Storage: Ensure you have at least 5 GB of disk space for the Python installation. Allocate additional space for the libraries, packages, and project files you intend to employ.
Any of the following operating systems:
Windows (Windows 7 and later)
MacOS (macOS 10.9 and later)
Linux (any of the distributions, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS)
Here's a generalized installation guide for Python on different operating systems:
Windows:
Download the Python installer.
Run the installer.
Customize the installation (optional).
Proceed with the installation.
Verify the installation.
Or, consider using the Microsoft Store for installation.
MacOS:
Check your current Python version.
Visit the Python website.
Download the macOS installer.
Run the installer and follow the instructions.
Verify Python and IDLE installations.
Confirm installation via Terminal.
Linux:
Check for pre-installed Python.
Use the Package Manager to install or update Python.
If needed, download the latest Python version.
Compile from source (optional).
Configure the script and complete the build process.
Verify the installation.
OR just skip the installation and start practicing now. Our courses offer an in-browser coding environment for a hassle-free, hands-on experience. If you need a primer to start your Python coding journey, Programming in Python is an excellent beginner course.
A practical introduction to Python is incomplete without package and environment basics. Two minutes here will save hours later:
Create an isolated environment (per project):
python -m venv .venv# Activate# Windows:.venv\Scripts\activate# macOS/Linux:source .venv/bin/activate
You’ll see (.venv) in your prompt—now installs are project-local.
Install packages with pip:
pip install requests pandaspip freeze > requirements.txt # lock your dependencies# Re-create later:pip install -r requirements.txt
When to use conda: prefer conda if you need native/compiled stacks (NumPy, SciPy, GPU, geospatial) or per-project Python versions:
conda create -n myproj python=3.12 numpyconda activate myproj
Install command-line tools globally with pipx (keeps your global site-packages clean):
pipx install blackpipx install ruff
One-file dependency manager: Poetry streamlines packaging + virtualenvs:
poetry initpoetry add fastapi uvicornpoetry run python app.py
Let's look at a sample of Python code to better understand Python syntax. Python coding differs from many programming languages because it uses new lines to conclude commands instead of semicolons or parentheses. It also defines the scope—including loops, functions, and classes—through indentation rather than using curly brackets.
Program to add two numbers:
num1 = 2num2 = 3# Add two numberssum = num1 + num2# Show the sumprint('The sum of {0} and {1} is {2}'.format(num1, num2, sum))
Output: The sum of 2 and 3 is 5
Let's understand the purpose of each line.
Line 1: Creates a variable 'num1' with value 2
Line 2: Creates a variable 'num2' with value 3
Line 3: Creates a comment. Lines starting with a # symbol are considered comments. The interpreter does not process them; instead, they serve as documentation for our code.
Line 4: Creates a new variable and stores the sum of 'sum1' and 'sum2'. It is calculated through the addition operator (+)
Line 5: Creates another comment
Line 6: Uses the 'print()' function to display the sum. The message includes the values of num1, num2, and sum in a formatted way using placeholders. Placeholders indicate the positions of values that will be dynamically inserted into the string
Here’s a swift introduction to Python syntax you’ll use daily:
# Built-in typesn = 42 # intx = 3.14 # floatok = True # bools = "hello" # strnums = [1, 2, 3] # list (mutable)point = (10, 20) # tuple (immutable)tags = {"py", "data"} # setuser = {"id": 1, "name": "Ada"} # dict# f-stringsprint(f"Hi {user['name']}, total={sum(nums)}")# Control flowfor i in range(3):if i % 2 == 0:print("even")else:print("odd")# Functions + type hintsfrom typing import Listdef mean(values: List[float]) -> float:return sum(values) / len(values)# Comprehensionssquares = [i*i for i in range(10) if i % 2 == 0]# Slicingfirst_three = nums[:3] # start:stopevery_other = nums[::2] # step# Context managers (auto-close files/resources)with open("data.txt") as fh:content = fh.read()
Memorize: f-strings, comprehensions, and context managers—they’re idiomatic, safe, and concise.
Let’s first start with Python not using semicolons to finish lines, unlike most programming language. A new line is enough for the interpreter to detect a new command.
In the example using the print() method, we can see an example.
print('First command')print('Second command')
Most languages will use curly brackets to define the scope of a code block, but Python’s interpreter will simply determine that through an indentation. This means that you have to be especially careful with white spaces in your code, which can break your application. Below is an example.
def my_function():print('Hello world')
To comment something in your code, you simply need to use a hash mark #. Below is an example.
# this is a comment that does not influence the program flowdef my_function():print('Hello world')
With python, you can store and manipulate data in your program. A variable stores a data such as a number, a username, a password, etc. To create (declare) a variable you can use the = symbol.
name='Bob'age=32
Notice that in Python, you don’t need to tell the program whether the variable is a string or integer, for instance. That’s because Python has dynamic typing, in which the interpreter automatically detects the data type.
To store data in Python, we have already established that you need to use variables. Still, with every variable, there will be a data type. Examples of data types are strings, integers, booleans, and lists.
A boolean type can only hold the value of True or False.
my_bool = Trueprint(type(my_bool))my_bool = bool(1024)print(type(my_bool))
An integer is one of three numeric types, including float and complex. An integer is a positive or negative whole number.
my_int = 32print(type(my_int))my_int = int(32)print(type(my_int))
A string is one of the most common data type.
my_city = "New York"print(type(my_city))#Single quotes have exactly#the same use as double quotesmy_city = 'New York'print(type(my_city))#Setting the variable type explicitlymy_city = str("New York")print(type(my_city))
Operators are symbols that can be used in your values and variables to perform comparison and mathematical operations.
Arithmetic operators:
+: addition
-: subtraction
*: multiplication
/: division
**: exponentiation
%: modulus, gives you the remainder of a division
Comparison operators:
==: equal
!=: not equal
>: greater than
<: less than
>=: greater than or equal to
<=: less than or equal to
In general, don’t use from modulename import *. This will clutter the importer’s namespace, which makes it much harder for linters to detect undefined names.
Import modules at the top of the file, which makes it clear what modules your code requires. Use one import per line.
Generally, it’s good practice to import modules in the following order:
standard library modules
third-party library modules
locally-developed modules
You should only move your imports into a local scope if you need to solve a problem such as avoiding a circular import or trying to reduce the initialization time of a module.
Essentially, everything in Python is an object, which has properties and methods. A class is an object constructor that acts as blueprint for creating objects.
Here, we create a class named MyClass with the property X. Then, we create a p1 object and print the value of X.
class MyClass:x = 5p1 = MyClass()print(p1.x)
When you create a class, you create a new type of object, which allows for new instances of that type. Each class will have its unique attributes attached to it. Compared to other programming languages, Python’s class incorporation uses minimum syntax and semantics.
There are various techniques to achieve this, but the best way is to use a dictionary that maps strings to functions. With this approach, strings do not need to match the names of the functions. It’s also the primary technique that is used to emulate a case construct:
def a():passdef b():passdispatch = {'go': a, 'stop': b} # Note lack of parens for funcsdispatch[get_input()]() # Note trailing parens to call function
Open your Python File window.
Type the follow coding
import osos.remove("ChangedFile.csv")print("File Removed!")
This task looks as simple as it is. All you do is is call os.remove() with the filename and path. Python defaults to the current directory.
Run the application and you should see the File Removed! message.
The generate a random number in Python, you can use the randint() function.
# Program to generate a random number between 0 and 9# importing the random moduleimport randomprint(random.randint(0,9))
For complex and non-regular data formats, you should use the struct module. This allows you to take a string containing binary data and convert it to a Python object, and vice versa.
In the example below, the code reads two 2-byte integers and one 4-byte integer in big-endian format from a file:
f = open(filename, "rb") # Open in binary mode for portabilitys = f.read(8)x, y, z = struct.unpack(">hhl", s)
Tkinter: Standard builds of Python include tkinter, which is the easiest to install and use. You can learn more here.
Kivy: Kivy is the cross-platform GUI library for desktop operating systems and mobile devices, which is written in Python and Cithon. It is a free and open source software under the MIT license.
Gtk+: The GObject introspection bindings for Python allow you to write GTK+ 3 applications.
wxWidgets: wxWidgets is a free and portable GUI written in C++. wxPython is the Python binding for wxwidgets, offering an umber of features via pure Python extensions that are no available in other bindings.
Many programmers prefer Python because of its simple syntax, which makes it easy to learn to code. Here are some more reasons for you to become a Python programmer:
Availability of third-party modules
Robust support libraries like NumPy and Pandas
Backed by an active open-source community
User-friendly data structures
Demonstrable efficiency with clean design and robust text processing
IoT opportunities
An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a program dedicated to software development. In this case, we are looking for an IDE dedicated towards python development. Some features of an IDE include:
An editor designed to handle code
Build, execution and debugging tools
Some form of source control
A good IDE for a Python environment offers certain important features: save and reload your code files, run code from within the environment, debugging support, syntax highlighting, and automatic code formatting.
General IDEs with Python support:
Eclipse + PyDev
Sublime Text
Atom
Python-specific editors and IDEs:
PyCharm
Spyder
Thonny
I recommend PyCharm, offering some amazing features like type checking, code inspections, automated refactoring, easy navigation in bigger projects, integration with debuggers and version control. The list goes on.
The best way to learn Python is with hands-on practice. Python is intuitive, so focusing on coding challenges will improve your skills. You can get ideas for these on GitHub, the official Python website, or online courses.
Blogs and forums are great resources, where you can see other people’s ideas, ask questions, and get step-by-step guides for free. Here are some suggestions:
In terms of courses, I recommend text-based instruction over video. You’ll spend way less time scrubbing and actually practicing what you want to learn. Here are some course suggestions to get started:
Learning Python is not too challenging, and once you've got the hang of it, coding becomes much simpler and smoother. Even more remarkable is that Python's skills are versatile—you can use Python in diverse fields like artificial intelligence, information security, and game development. You can even use it to create user-friendly desktop apps. So, don't wait—dive right in! Try out some beginner Python projects to strengthen your grasp of the language, and have some fun while you're at it!
What are the basics of Python?
What are the key features of Python?
