Introduction to Python

Overview

This lesson provides a comprehensive introduction to Python, a versatile and widely-used programming language. You’ll learn about its syntax, key features, and how to write your first Python program. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a solid understanding of Python basics and be ready to explore more complex programming concepts.

Introduction

Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language. Created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991, Python’s design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its notable use of significant whitespace. Its language constructs and object-oriented approach aim to help programmers write clear, logical code for small and large-scale projects.

Python is dynamically typed and garbage-collected. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming. Python is known for its comprehensive standard library that supports many common programming tasks directly out of the box.

Chapters

1- Getting Started with Python
  • Installing Python: How to install Python on different operating systems.
  • Your First Python Program: Writing and running a simple “Hello, World!” program.
  • Python Syntax Basics: Basic syntax rules, indentation, and structure.
  • Data Types and Structures: Exploring Python’s built-in data types and structures.
  • Control Flow - If Statements and Loops: Controlling the flow of your program using conditional statements and loops.
  • Functions in Python: Defining and calling functions, understanding scope, and basic concepts of arguments and return values.
  • Modules and Packages: Using Python’s extensive standard library and installing third-party packages.
  • Python Input/Output Operations: Reading input from the user and displaying output to the console.
2. Variables and Data Types
  • Variables: Declaring and using variables.
  • Basic Data Types: Introducing strings, integers, floats, and booleans.
  • Type Conversion: Converting between different data types.
  • Mutable vs Immutable Types: Understanding the difference between mutable and immutable types.
3. Control Structures
  • Conditional Statements: Using if, elif, and else to make decisions.
  • Loops: Iterating with for and while loops.
  • Loop Control Statements: break, continue, and pass.
  • Comprehension Expressions: Creating lists, dictionaries, and sets using comprehensions.
4. Functions
  • Defining Functions: Creating your own functions with def.
  • Calling a Function: Invoking functions with and without arguments.
  • Return Values: Using the return statement to send data back from a function.
  • Default Parameter Values: Specifying default values for function parameters.
  • Keyword Arguments: Passing arguments by keyword, not position.
  • Arbitary Number of Arguments: Using *args and **kwargs to handle any number of arguments.
5. Working with Collections
  • Lists: Creating and manipulating lists.
  • Tuples: Understanding immutable sequences.
  • Dictionaries: Working with key-value pairs.
  • Sets: Using sets for unique collection of items.
6. Modules and Packages
  • Importing Modules: Utilizing Python’s standard library.
  • Creating Modules: Writing and importing your own modules.
  • Understanding Packages: Organizing modules in packages.

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Python is a powerful language that’s great for beginners and seasoned developers alike. This lesson has laid the groundwork for you to continue exploring Python with a strong foundation in its syntax and fundamental concepts.