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What is Python?

Learn that Python is an interpreted, high-level language.

What is Python?

Python is a general-purpose programming language created by Guido van Rossum in 1991, famous for its readability. Today it is a modern language at version 3.12.

Python is an interpreted language: an interpreter runs your code line by line instead of a compiler. This makes fast trial and error easy.

Python is used for websites, data analysis, artificial intelligence, automation and games. Famous apps written in Python include Instagram, YouTube and Netflix.

What can you build with Python?

Python is a multi-purpose language. The most common use cases are:

  • Web: secure sites with Django and Flask
  • Data: analysis and statistics with pandas and NumPy
  • AI: machine learning and large language models
  • Automation: scripts that speed up repetitive tasks

This flexibility makes Python popular worldwide.

Questions and answers

Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.

1 What runs Python code?

  • A browser
  • A compiler
  • An interpreter Correct answer
  • The operating system

Explanation: An interpreter runs Python code line by line.

2 Match the concepts

Term Meaning
Python Language
Interpreter Runtime
PyPI Package index
Guido van Rossum Creator of the language

3 Which can NOT be done with Python?

  • Build a website
  • Do data analysis
  • Write an automation script
  • Write an operating system kernel Correct answer

Explanation: OS kernels are typically written in C; Python is not suited for that.

4 Python is an ___ language

Question 
Python is an ____ language.
Answer 
Python is an interpreted language.

Explanation: Python is an interpreted language.

All lessons in Beginner

1 Python basics

  1. What is Python?
  2. REPL and print
  3. Comments
  4. Indentation blocks
  5. python -c and scripts
  6. Summary - Python basics

2 Variables

  1. Variable assignment
  2. Multiple assignment
  3. Naming variables
  4. id and type
  5. Swapping variables
  6. Summary - Variables

3 Data types

  1. int and float
  2. bool
  3. str basics
  4. None
  5. Type conversion
  6. Summary - Data types

4 Project: Calculator

  1. Project design
  2. Add/subtract
  3. Multiply/divide
  4. Error handling
  5. Putting it together

5 Operators

  1. Arithmetic
  2. Comparison
  3. Logical
  4. Bitwise
  5. Membership and identity
  6. Summary - Operators

6 String basics

  1. f-string
  2. Concatenation
  3. str.format
  4. Raw strings
  5. Triple-quote
  6. Summary - String basics

7 Conditionals

  1. The if statement
  2. elif and else
  3. Nested if
  4. Truthiness
  5. Conditional expression
  6. Summary - Conditionals

8 Loops

  1. The for loop
  2. range
  3. The while loop
  4. break and continue
  5. Loop else
  6. Summary - Loops

9 Project: Shopping cart

  1. Cart design
  2. Adding items
  3. Calculating totals
  4. Updating quantity
  5. Putting it together

10 Lists

  1. Declaring lists
  2. Index and slice
  3. List methods
  4. in and count
  5. Sorting lists
  6. Summary - Lists

11 List comprehension

  1. Comprehension basics
  2. Filtered comprehension
  3. Dict and set comprehension
  4. Nested comprehension
  5. Generator expression
  6. Summary - List comprehension

12 Tuple, set and dict

  1. Tuple
  2. Set
  3. Dict basics
  4. Dict methods
  5. Dict comprehension
  6. Summary - Tuple, set and dict

13 Functions

  1. def
  2. return
  3. Docstring
  4. Default parameters
  5. *args and **kwargs
  6. Summary - Functions

14 Function parameters

  1. Positional parameters
  2. Keyword parameters
  3. Keyword-only
  4. Positional-only
  5. Type hints basics
  6. Summary - Function parameters

15 Project: To-do CLI

  1. Task model
  2. Adding tasks
  3. Listing tasks
  4. Completing tasks
  5. Putting it together

16 Advanced string methods

  1. split and join
  2. strip, lstrip, rstrip
  3. replace
  4. find and index
  5. startswith, endswith
  6. Summary - Advanced strings

17 Input and output

  1. input()
  2. int/float conversion
  3. print parameters
  4. f-string formatting
  5. sys.argv
  6. Summary - Input and output

18 Error handling

  1. try/except
  2. else and finally
  3. raise
  4. Exception hierarchy
  5. Custom exceptions
  6. Summary - Error handling

19 Modules

  1. import
  2. from import
  3. as alias
  4. __name__ == '__main__'
  5. Standard library
  6. Summary - Modules

20 Beginner final

  1. Project design
  2. Data model
  3. Business logic
  4. Error handling
  5. Putting it together