Trusted answers to developer questions

What are keywords in Python?

Get the Learn to Code Starter Pack

Break into tech with the logic & computer science skills you’d learn in a bootcamp or university — at a fraction of the cost. Educative's hand-on curriculum is perfect for new learners hoping to launch a career.

Keywords are reserved words in Python that are used to trigger specific tasks. We cannot use a keyword as a variable name, function name, or any other identifier since these keywords each hold a special meaning. All of the keywords in Python are lowercase.

The table below shows the list of keywords and their meanings:

Keyword	Meaning
`print`	Prints to console.
`while`	Controls the flow of the code by starting a loop.
`for`	Iterates over items of a collection in the order that they appear.
`continue`	Interrupts the current cycle. The remaining part of the current iteration will be skipped and the program will move on to the next iteration.
`break`	Exits the (loop) cycle.
`if`	Determines which statements are going to be executed.
`elif`	Stands for “else if”. If the first test evaluates to `False`, then this keyword checks for the next one.
`else`	Is optional. The statement after the else keyword is executed when the `if` condition is `False`.
`is`	Tests for object identity.
`not`	Negates a Boolean value.
`and`	All conditions in a Boolean expression must be met.
`or`	At least one condition must be met.
`import`	Imports other modules into a Python script.
`as`	Gives a module a different alias.
`from`	Imports a specific variable, class, or function from a module.
`def`	Creates a new user-defined function.
`return`	Exits the function and returns a value if needed.
`lambda`	Creates a new anonymous function.
`global`	Accesses variables defined outside functions.
`try`	Specifies exception handlers.
`except`	Catches the exception and executes codes.
`raise`	Creates a user-defined exception.
`del`	Deletes an object.
`pass`	Tells the program to do nothing. Used in `if-else` statements to make the loop do nothing upon encountering certain conditions.
`assert`	Used for debugging purposes.
`class`	Creates a new user-defined object.
`exec`	Executes Python code dynamically.
`yield`	Used with generators.

RELATED TAGS

python

keyword

python3

Learn in-demand tech skills in half the time

PRODUCTS

Mock Interview

New

Courses

Skill Paths

Projects

Assessments