Basics of Python Language - What is Python?

Introduction to Python

---

What Is Python?

Python is a high-level (easy to understand for humans) popular programming language invented by Dutch benevolent dictator and programmer Guido Van Rossum in 1991 at CWI in the Netherlands.

Python is having an interpreter to convert high-level language to machine language for the execution of errorless programs. Though python can be interpreted as well as compiled using a compatible compiler for faster executions.

This language is basically taken from ABC programming which is also developed at CWI and the adventurous name "Python" is derived from the television show 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. 

Python is also having Object Oriented Programming (OOPS) concepts. It is well fitted with popular databases like - MYSQL, etc. It is an interactive programming language.

Why use Python Programs?

• Python has Simple syntax and Easy to use for beginners than other high-level programming languages because it's availability is a free source.


• In computer science Large community and developers preferring Python nowadays for programming in the backend as source code.


• Python is a portable language so it can be easily called and use as cross-language operation in may programming languages.


• Python is available for most OS platforms including - Windows, Linux, Mac.


• Python programs are used for Software development, Web Development, designing web applications using complicated and microframeworks like - Django, Flask, Pylon, etc. Websites like Instagram and Pinterest are built using this language.


• The major open-source libraries of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science like - Keras and Tensorflow are built on Python.


• OpenCV library helps Computer Vision used for Face Recognition is also built using Python.


• Python is also used for Automation as it is a scripting language and uses Selenium and Splinter standard library.


• It is also used as a leading programing language by many Data Scientists. Matplotlib and Seaborn libraries are mostly used.


• Python is also used for Web Programming coding at the back end with the help of Html and CSS at the front end.

Versions of Python

• Python 1.0 - Jan 1994
• Python 2.0 - 16 Oct. 2000
• Python 2.7 - 03 July 2010 (discontinued from 2020, not supported.)
• Python 3.0 - 03 Dec 2008
• Python 3.6 - 23 Dec 2016
• Python 3.8 - 14 Oct. 2019
• Python 3.8.10 - 18 Dec 2019
• Python 3.8.2 - 24 Feb. 2020 (Latest)

Python 3 supports the latest features and techniques like - AI, Machine Learning and Data Science.

  PyCharm Python IDE

There are many different Python IDE or text editors present in the market for editing python code but we need to install common in all i.e Python from its official website - Download Python. This will help in executing our program easily and accurately. It includes an interpreter for python program execution.

After using and experiencing for a long time I personally liked Python language most than other languages. A Python IDE described below is very much user-friendly and easy to understand. I am not explaining this for any promotions but after using it I definitely become a fan of it.

Best Python IDE or text editor for python programming considered by many certified developers to using PyCharm IDE developed by Jetbrains. It provides many different features and a user-friendly environment which is easy to understand.

PyCharm  - Python IDE

Basic Data Types in Python

There are many different data types used in Python like other Programming languages like C, C++, JAVA, etc. Each data type has some defined instructions according to which they perform a specific function when used in a program by the programmers.

1. The "int" data type used to define integers value in a program for arithmetic operations or other uses.
2. Data type "float" is used to define a float value (i.e. decimal value) in a program.
3. "String" data type is used to define a string value or a sentence.

Basic Python Operators

Like data types, operators are also very useful while programming in various Programming languages like C, C++, JAVA, etc. Every operator has some defined instructions according to which they perform a specific function when used in a program by the programmers.

1. Arithmetic Operators are used in programming to perform some basic mathematical operations like - Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Modulus, etc.
2. Logical Operators are used for defining some logics in programming like - AND, OR, NOT, True, False, etc.
3. Conditional Operators are used to defining some specific conditions in a program to follow while execution. Examples - If, Elif, Else, etc.
4. Bitwise Operators are used to helping to execute programs after converting integers into a binary number to perform bitwise operations. Examples - ^ (binary XOR), << (left shift), ~ (one's complement), etc.

Loops used for Python

As data types and operators, loops are also very useful syntax used while programming in various Programming languages like C, C++, JAVA, etc. Loops help in performing repetitive programming sequences easily and save our time for other execution which also increases execution speed.

There are different types of loops used for different purposes and used according to programmers and whenever program requirements. Mainly used loops are :

• For Loop
• While Loop

Libraries used in Python

There are a vast numbers of libraries/modules used in Python for various purposes according to programmers need. According to niche libraries are used accordingly. Python libraries made coding in Python like a cup of tea. Mostly ML(Machine Learning) and Data Science algorithms are works easily using Python Libraries.We will discuss on all these libraries/modules in later posts.

 

Some of the mainly and widely used top Python Libraries are mentioned below :

• Matplotlib
  
• Seaborn
• Tkinter
• PyQt
• PyGame
• NumPy
• Pandas
• Scikit Learn
• Speech Recognition 
• OpenCV 

Web-Frameworks in Python

Web-Frameworks are software which is used to develop websites with ease in less time and with all related useful information. Python being a front-end as well as back-end has ability to create webpages and manage powerful websites with their web-frameworks.

 

Some of the popular Python based Web-Frameworks are :

• Django
  
• Flask
  
• CherryPy
• Web2Py
  

Conclusion :

Thanks for reading my article on "Basics of Python Language - What is Python?". All the basics concepts about Python Programming and related tutorials have been discussed including Versions and best IDE for editing programs. I hope it has really helped you in getting your desired information.

If you find this article useful then share it with your friends and family to get them to know about these basics of Python. For any "Computer and Programming" related problems feel free to contact through Comment Box below.