How to Learn Python Step by Step

In this complete blog post we are going to talk about How to Learn Python Step by Step, so Python is dynamic and powerful programming language, and it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. because it has simple syntax, extensive libraries and broad applications, also Python is one of the best choice for beginners. Whether you’re an aspiring developer or looking to expand your skill set, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of learning Python from scratch and helps you become a best Python programmer, so this (How to Learn Python Step by Step) will be a good place to learn Python.

 

Contents hide

 

 

Introduction to Python

We already mentioned that Python is dynamic and powerful programming language, and it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. because it has simple syntax, extensive libraries and broad applications, also Python is one of the best choice for beginners, now let’s talk more about Python, and also we will Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

What is Python and why is it popular?

So Python is high level, interpreted programming language that was first released in 1991. It was created by Guido van Rossum and it has since gained a lot of popularity among developers. Python design philosophy emphasizes code readability and simplicity, and this makes it easy to learn and use.

 

These are some reasons why Python has become popular:

 

  1. Simplicity and Readability: Python has a clean and easy syntax that is like English, and this makes it easy to read and write. This simplicity helps beginners learn programming concepts quickly and allows experienced developers to be more productive.
  2. Large and Active Community: Python has a large a community of developers who contribute to its growth. This community provides extensive support, documentation, and different third party libraries, and this makes it easier to find solutions to problems and accelerate development.
  3. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Python is a cross platform language, which means that Python programs can run on different operating systems without requiring major modifications. This portability is advantageous for developing applications that need to run on multiple platforms.
  4. Powerful Libraries: Python has a rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that simplify complex tasks. For example, libraries like NumPy, pandas and Matplotlib are widely used for data analysis and visualization, also TensorFlow and PyTorch are popular for machine learning and deep learning.
  5. Integration and Extensibility: Python can easily integrate with other languages such as C, C++ and Java. This capability allows developers to leverage existing code and libraries written in other languages, and it enhance Python capabilities and performance.
  6. Job Market and Career Opportunities: Python popularity has led to a growing demand for Python developers. Many companies and industries, including tech giants and startups are using Python for different applications, and it offer nice job opportunities for Python programmers.

 

 

Installing Python on different platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Now let’s talk that how we can install Python for different platforms, first let’s start from Window.

 

Windows:

  1. Visit the official Python website at python.org/downloads.
  2. On the Downloads page, click on the Download Python button for the latest stable release.
  3. Scroll down to the Files section and select the Windows installer appropriate for your system (32-bit or 64-bit).
  4. Run the downloaded installer.
  5. On the first page of the installer, select the option to Add Python to PATH and then click Customize installation if you want to customize the installation location.
  6. Click Next and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

 

macOS:

  1. Visit the official Python website at python.org/downloads.
  2. On the Downloads page, click on the Download Python button for the latest stable release.
  3. Scroll down to the Files section and select the macOS installer package.
  4. Run the downloaded package, and the installer should open.
  5. Follow the prompts in the installer, and make sure to select the option to Install for all users to ensure Python is available system wide.
  6. Complete the installation process by following the prompts.

 

Linux:

  1. Most Linux distributions come with Python pre installed. For checking if Python is already installed, open a terminal and type python3 –version or python –version. If Python is not installed, you can proceed with the installation.
  2. Open a terminal and enter the following command to update the package lists:

 

Next, install Python by running this command:

 

After installing Python, you can run Python programs by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing python3 (or python for Python 2) followed by the name of the code you want to execute.

 

Also take a note that some Linux distributions may have different package managers or package names for Python. The above instructions are general guidelines, and you may need to adapt them based on your specific distribution.

 

 

Writing your first “Hello, World” program

So in the above sections, we have learned how we can install Python, now it is time to create our first Hello World code in Python programming language, first of all, you need to open your favorites like PyCharm or VSCode, or even you can Python IDE itself, writing your first Hello World code in Python is so simple and easy, add this code in your file.

This code uses the print() function in Python to display the message Hello World on the console. print() function is a built-in function in Python that takes an argument (in this case, the string “Hello World”) and prints it as output. When the program is executed, the message Hello World is displayed on the console.

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

 

Python Variables and Data Types

So we have learned about the basics and fundamental concepts of Python, In this section of Learn Python step by step, we want to talk about Python variables, we will cover different topics on Python variables, for example how we can create variables in Python, we will talk about naming convention, data types and many more.

 

 

Understanding Python Variables and their Naming Conventions

Variables play an important role in Python programming, because it allows us to store and manipulate data. In addition to understanding how variables work in Python, it is essential to follow proper naming conventions to write clean and readable code.

 

What are Variables in Python ?

In Python a variable is a symbolic name that represents a memory location used to store data. Unlike some other programming languages, Python is dynamically typed, which means you don’t need to declare the type of a variable explicitly. Instead, the type is inferred based on the value assigned to the variable.

 

Declaring and Assigning Values to Python Variables:

In Python, you can declare a variable by simply assigning a value to it using the ‘=’ operator. For example, In here we have declared two variables, name and age, and assigned them the values geekscoders and 25.

 

 

Naming Conventions for Python Variables:

So proper naming conventions is an important factor for writing clean and maintainable Python code. These are some commonly accepted practices for naming variables in Python:

  1. Use descriptive and meaningful names: Choose names that accurately reflect the purpose or content of the variable. This makes the code more readable and self explanatory. Example: total_sales, customer_name
  2. Use lowercase letters with words separated by underscores: This convention is known as snake_case. It enhances readability by making variable names more distinguishable. Example: num_students, average_temperature
  3. Avoid using reserved keywords: Python has a set of reserved keywords that have predefined meanings in the language. These keywords cannot be used as variable names. Example: if, for, while
  4. Be consistent in your naming style: Maintain a consistent naming style throughout your codebase to enhance code readability and reduce confusion. Choose either snake_case or CamelCase and stick to it. Example: total_sales (snake_case), customerName (CamelCase)
  5. Use singular nouns for single values and plural nouns for collections: This convention helps to differentiate between singular and plural entities in your code. Example: car, cars
  6. Avoid using single letters or ambiguous names: While Python allows single letter variable names, it is recommended to use meaningful names to make the code more understandable. Example: Instead of x, use count or index.

 

 

Python Numeric data types: integers, floats, and complex numbers

Python provides different data types to represent and work with numbers. Understanding these numeric data types is fundamental for performing mathematical operations and manipulating numerical data in Python. there are three primary numeric data types in Python, integers, floats and complex numbers.

 

Python Integers:

Python Integers are whole numbers without any fractional or decimal part. In Python, integers are represented using the int data type. They can be positive or negative numbers, or even zero. For example in this code x and y are integer variables.

 

 

Python Floats:
Floats are also known as floating point numbers, they are numbers that contain a fractional part. They are represented using the float data type in Python. Floats can be positive or negative and can include decimal points. For example:

 

 

Python Complex Numbers:

Complex numbers are consist of a real part and an imaginary part. They are represented using the complex data type in Python. The imaginary part is denoted by the letter j or J. For example:

 

 

Python Text data type: strings and their manipulation

Text data plays an important role in programming, and understanding how to work with strings is essential for effectively manipulating and processing textual information in Python. In this section, we want to talk about different string manipulation techniques using Python.

 

Strings in Python:

In Python a string is a sequence of characters enclosed within single quotes (”) or double quotes (“”). Strings can contain letters, digits, symbols and even spaces. For example in this  code name and message are string variables that store the name and a greeting.

 

 

Python String Manipulation Techniques:

Python provides different built-in functions and operators to manipulate strings. Let’s explore some common string manipulation techniques:

 

Concatenation:

You can concatenate or join two or more strings using the + operator like this.

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

String Length:

The len() function returns the length of a string, which represents the number of characters it contains. For example:

 

 

Accessing Individual Characters:

You can access individual characters inside a string by using square brackets [] along with the index. Python uses zero based indexing, where the first character is at index 0. For example:

 

 

String Slicing:

Slicing allows you to extract a portion of a string. You can specify a range of indices inside square brackets [] to extract the desired substring like this:

 

 

 

Python Boolean Data Type and Logical Operators

Boolean values and logical operators play an important role in programming as they allow us to express and evaluate conditions. Python, like many other programming languages, provides a Boolean data type and logical operators that enable us to perform logical operations and make decisions based on true or false conditions.

 

 

Python Boolean Data Type:
In Python Boolean data type represents two possible values, True and False. Booleans are often used to evaluate conditions or store the results of logical comparisons. For example in this code, is_raining and is_sunny are Boolean variables that represent whether it is raining or sunny.

 

 

Python Logical Operators:

Python provides three primary logical operators, and, or and not. These operators allow us to combine and manipulate Boolean values to create more complex logical expressions.

 

  • and Operator: The and operator returns True if both operands are True , and False otherwise. It represents the logical conjunction. This is an example:

 

 

  • or Operator:

The or operator returns True if at least one of the operands is True, and False if both operands are False. It represents the logical disjunction.

 

 

  • not Operator:

not operator is a unary operator that returns the opposite of a Boolean value. If the operand is True, it returns False, and if the operand is False, it returns True. It represents the logical negation. 

 

 

Combining Logical Operators:

You can combine multiple logical operators to create more complex logical expressions. Parentheses can be used to define the order of evaluation. 

 

 

 

Python Control Structures

In this section of Learn Python Step by Step we want to learn about Control Structures in Python, so Control structures in Python are programming constructs that enable the execution of specific code blocks based on certain conditions or criteria. They allows you to control the flow of execution in a program and make decisions based on the values of variables or the outcome of logical expressions. Python provides different control structures like if statements, loops and function definitions, that helps in creating structured and dynamic programs.

 

 

Python if, else, and elif statements

In Python, if, else, and elif are conditional statements that allows you to control the flow of execution based on certain conditions. These statements helps you make decisions and execute specific blocks of code accordingly.

 

 

Python if Statement:

The if statement is the simplest form of a conditional statement in Python. It allows you to execute a block of code only if a given condition is true. The basic syntax of an if statement is as follows:

The condition can be any expression that evaluates to either True or False. If the condition is true, the code block under the if statement is executed; otherwise it is skipped.

 

 

Python else Statement:

The else statement is used in conjunction with the if statement to provide an alternative code block to execute when the if condition is false. This is the syntax for that:

When the condition is true, the code block under the if statement is executed. If the condition is false, the code block under the else statement is executed instead.

 

 

Python elif Statement:

The elif statement is short for else if, it allows you to test multiple conditions in sequence. It is used when you have more than two possible outcomes. This is the syntax for that:

The elif statement is evaluated only if the preceding if statement or elif statement(s) evaluated to false. It provides an additional condition to test, allowing for more complex decision-making scenarios.

 

 

Python Nested Conditional Statements:

You can also nest conditional statements inside one another to create even more complex decision structures. This allows for evaluating multiple conditions and executing code blocks accordingly. This is an example:

 

 

This is a practical example of Python if, else, and elif statements.

In the above example, the user is prompted to enter a number. After that the program uses an if statement to check the value of the number.

  • If the number is greater than 0, the condition number > 0 is true, and the code block under the if statement is executed. It prints The number is positive.
  • If the number is less than 0, the condition number < 0 is true, and the code block under the elif statement is executed. It prints The number is negative.
  • If the number is neither greater than 0 nor less than 0, the conditions number > 0 and number < 0 are false, and the code block under the else statement is executed. It prints The number is zero.

 

 

So this will be the result if you run the code

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

Python Looping structures, for and while loops

Looping structures in Python, namely for loops and while loops, allows you to repeat a block of code multiple times. They are powerful constructs for iterating over sequences, performing repetitive tasks and controlling the flow of execution in a program.

 

 

Python For Loop:

A for loop is used when you want to iterate over a sequence of elements, such as a list, tuple, string or range. It allows you to execute a block of code for each item in the sequence. This is the basic syntax of a for loop:

In each iteration, the variable item takes on the value of the current element in the sequence. The code block under the for loop is executed for each item in the sequence until the loop reaches the end of the sequence.

 

 

This is a practical example on printing numbers from 1 to 4 using a for loop

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

Python While Loop:

A while loop is used when you want to repeat a block of code as long as a given condition is true. It continues iterating as long as the condition remains true. This is the basic syntax of a while loop:

In the above syntax the condition is checked before each iteration. If it evaluates to true, the code block under the while loop is executed. If it becomes false, the loop is exited, and program execution continues with the next statement after the while loop.

 

 

This is a practical example on printing numbers from 1 to 5 using a while loop:

In the above example, the variable num is incremented by 1 in each iteration until it reaches 6, causing the condition num <= 5 to become false and ending the while loop.

Both for loops and while loops are valuable tools for controlling program flow and performing repetitive tasks. Depending on the situation, you can choose the appropriate loop structure to achieve the desired functionality in your Python programs.

 

 

 

Python Break and Continue Statements

In Python break and continue statements are powerful tools that allows you to control the flow of loops. These statements provides flexibility and nice control when working with loops, and it enables you to terminate a loop prematurely or skip iterations based on certain conditions, so now let’s talk about these two concepts practically.

 

Python Break Statement:

break statement is used to abruptly terminate a loop, regardless of whether the loop condition is still true. When we encountered to the break statement, it immediately exits the loop, and program execution continues with the next statement after the loop. The break statement is often used when a specific condition is met, and there is no need to continue the loop. This is an example to illustrate its usage:

In the above example for loop iterates over the numbers from 1 to 4. but when the value of num becomes 4, the condition num == 4 is satisfied, and the break statement is executed. As a result, the loop is terminated prematurely, and the number 4 is not printed.

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

Python Continue Statement:

The continue statement is used to skip the rest of the current iteration and move on to the next iteration of a loop. When we encountered in this scenario, the continue statement jumps to the next iteration without executing the remaining code within the loop block. It is typically used when you want to skip certain iterations based on specific conditions. This is an example for that.

In the above example, the for loop iterates over the numbers from 1 to 4. When num equals 2, the condition num == 2 is satisfied, and the continue statement is executed. As a result, the code block below the continue statement is skipped for that iteration, and the loop proceeds to the next iteration.

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

 

Python Nested Loops

In Python nested loops are mechanisms that provide a powerful way to handle complex iteration scenarios and gain best control over loop execution. Nested loops allows you to have one loop inside another, and this enables you to iterate over multiple dimensions of data. Loop control mechanisms, such as the break and continue statements, further enhance your ability to control the flow of iteration. 

 

 

Nested Loops:

Nested loops refer to the concept of having one loop inside another. This allows you to iterate over multiple levels or dimensions of data. Each iteration of the outer loop triggers the inner loop, which after that iterates over its elements. This structure is particularly useful when you want to work with two dimensional lists, matrices or nested data structures. Let’s consider an example:

In the above example, we have a nested list called numbers, which contains three sublists. By using nested loops, we iterate over each element in the numbers list. The outer loop iterates over each sublist (row), while the inner loop iterates over each element within that sublist (num). As a result, all the numbers are printed sequentially.

 

 

 

Python Data Structures

In Python data structures are containers that allows you to organize and store data in different formats. They provides efficient ways to access, manipulate and manage collections of data. Python offers several built-in data structures, you can use each of them for a specific purpose and different requirements. In this section of learn Python Step by Step, we want to talk practically about some of the commonly used Python data structures.

 

 

Python Lists: creating, accessing, and manipulating elements

In Python lists are powerful data structures that allows you to store and manipulate collections of elements. For example if you need to store numbers, strings or a combination of different data types, lists provide a flexible solution. In this section we want to talk about the  fundamentals of Python lists like creating lists, accessing elements and manipulating them.

 

 

Creating Python Lists:

Creating a list in Python is easy and simple. You enclose a sequence of elements within square brackets [], separated by commas. This is an example of creating a simple list:

In the above example, we have created a list at name of langs, and it contains four string elements.

 

 

Accessing Python List Elements:

For accessing individual elements in a list, we can use indexing. Python uses zero based indexing, it means that the first element is at index 0, the second element at index 1, and so on. You can also use negative indexing to access elements from the end of the list. These are a few examples:

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

In addition to accessing individual elements, you can also use slicing to extract a sublist from a list. Slicing allows you to specify a range of indices to extract a subset of elements. For example:

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

Manipulating Python List Elements

Python lists offer different methods to manipulate their elements. These are some commonly used operations:

Adding Elements:

  • append(): Adds an element to the end of the list.
  • insert(): Inserts an element at a specific index.

Removing Elements:

  • remove(): Removes the first occurrence of a specified element.
  • pop(): Removes and returns an element at a specific index.

Modifying Elements:

  • Assigning a new value to an element using indexing.

 

 

 

Python Tuples: immutable sequences

In Python tuples are fundamental data structure that allows you to store collections of elements. Tuples are similar to lists, but with one important difference that they are immutable. This means that once you we have created a tuple, we cannot modify its elements. In this section we want to talk about tuples in Python, their characteristics and how they are different from lists.

 

 

Creating Python Tuples:

Creating a tuple in Python is simple. You enclose a sequence of elements within parentheses (), separated by commas. This is an example of creating a tuple:

 

 

Immutable Nature of Python Tuples:

One defining characteristic of tuples is their immutability. Once a tuple is created, you cannot modify its elements or its size. This means you cannot add, remove or modify elements inside a tuple. For example:

 

So we can say that Python Tuples are useful when you have data that should remain constant throughout your program execution. For example, you might use tuples to represent fixed data such as days of the week, months of the year or coordinates.

 

 

Accessing Python Tuple Elements:

Accessing elements in a tuple is similar to accessing elements in a list. You use zero based indexing to retrieve specific elements. These are a few examples:

Tuples also support slicing, and it allows you to extract a subset of elements. but keep in mind that slicing a tuple will return a new tuple containing the selected elements.

 

 

Python Tuple Packing and Unpacking:

In Python, you can easily pack and unpack tuples. Tuple packing refers to creating a tuple by separating values with commas, without enclosing them in parentheses. Tuple unpacking allows you to assign elements of a tuple to multiple variables in a single line. This is an example.

 

 

 

Python Dictionaries: key-value pairs for efficient data storage

In Python, dictionaries are powerful data structures, and it allows you to store and retrieve data using key-value pairs. Unlike lists and tuples, which are indexed by integers, dictionaries provides more flexible approach by associating values with unique keys. In this section we want to talk about the concept of dictionaries in Python, their characteristics, and how they can enhance data storage and retrieval efficiency.

 

 

Creating Python Dictionaries:

Creating a dictionary in Python is simple. You enclose a sequence of key-value pairs inside curly braces {}, and you can separate them by commas. each key-value pair consists of a key followed by a colon : and the corresponding value. This is an example of creating a dictionary:

 

 

Accessing Python Dictionary Values:

For accessing values in a dictionary, you can use the associated key. If you remember in the lists and tuples, we have used integer indices, dictionaries allows you to use any hashable object as a key. These are a few examples of accessing values from the person dictionary:

In the above example, we have accessed values using the keys name, age, and country. The get() method is used to retrieve the value associated with a key, and it allows you to provide a default value in case the key does not exist in the dictionary.

 

 

Modifying and Adding Python Dictionary Entries:

Dictionaries are mutable, which means you can modify existing entries or add new key-value pairs. This is how you can update the person dictionary:

 

 

Python Dictionary Methods and Operations:

Python dictionaries provide different methods and operations to manipulate and retrieve data efficiently. These are some common methods:

  • keys(): Returns a view object containing the dictionary keys.
  • values(): Returns a view object containing the dictionary values.
  • items(): Returns a view object containing the dictionary key-value pairs.

 

Also you can use operations like in and not in to check for the presence of a key in a dictionary.

 

 

Python Sets: unordered collections with unique elements

In Python, sets are valuable data structures that allows you to store collections of unique elements. Unlike lists or tuples, sets do not preserve element order, and they ensure that each element is unique inside the set. In this section we want to talk about the main concept of sets in Python, their characteristics and how they can be useful for efficient data manipulation.

 

 

Creating Python Sets:

Creating a set in Python is easy and simple. You can define a set by enclosing a sequence of elements within curly braces {} or by using the set() constructor. This is an example of creating a set:

 

 

Python Sets Unique Elements:

One of the key characteristics of sets is that they only store unique elements. If you attempt to add duplicate elements to a set, they will be automatically deduplicated. This unique property makes sets ideal for tasks such as finding unique values in a collection or removing duplicates from a list. This is an example of that.

In this example, we have converted a list of numbers into a set, which automatically removes the duplicate values.

 

 

Python Set Operations:

Python sets support different operations for efficient data manipulation. These are some commonly used operations:

Adding and Removing Elements:

  • add(): Adds a single element to the set.
  • update(): Adds multiple elements to the set.
  • remove(): Removes a specific element from the set.
  • discard(): Removes an element if it exists, without raising an error if it doesn’t.
  • pop(): Removes and returns an arbitrary element from the set.

 

 

Python Set Operations:

  • Union: Combines two sets and returns a new set containing all unique elements.
  • Intersection: Returns a new set containing elements common to both sets.
  • Difference: Returns a new set with elements from the first set that are not in the second set.
  • Symmetric Difference: Returns a new set with elements present in either set, but not in both.

 

 

 

Python Functions

Now let’s talk about functions, in this section of learn Python Step by Step, we will practically talk about using functions in Python, function syntax, lambda functions and many more.

 

Understanding Python functions and their advantages

In Python, functions are a fundamental concept that allows you to organize and reuse code efficiently. Functions are blocks of code that perform specific tasks and can be called multiple times throughout a program. In this section we want to talk about the concept of functions in Python, their advantages and how they enhance code modularity and reusability.

 

Advantages of Python Functions:

  1. Code Modularity: Functions promote code modularity, because it allows you to break down a program into smaller, manageable units. Each function can focus on a specific task, and this makes the code easier to understand, test and maintain. You can encapsulate complex logic within functions, making the overall program structure more organized and readable.
  2. Reusability: Functions enable code reuse, which reduces redundancy and promotes efficiency. Once a function is defined, it can be called multiple times from different parts of the program. This eliminates the need to duplicate code, resulting in shorter, more concise programs. By reusing functions, you save development time and effort, and any updates or improvements to the function automatically propagate throughout the program.
  3. Abstraction: Functions provides a level of abstraction, and it allows you to focus on the what rather than the how. By encapsulating a set of operations within a function, you can use the function without worrying about the implementation details. This abstraction simplifies the code and makes it more readable, especially for complex operations or algorithms.
  4. Code Maintenance and Debugging: Functions make code maintenance and debugging easier. Since each function has a specific responsibility, it is easier to locate and fix bugs inside a smaller, isolated scope. also if a change or bug fix is required, you only need to modify the function code rather than searching through the entire program.
  5. Collaboration and Teamwork: Functions facilitate collaboration among developers working on the same project. By dividing the program into functions, different team members can work on different parts simultaneously. Functions also provide a clear interface, and it allows team members to understand how to interact with the code and what each function expects as input and returns as output.

 

 

Python Function Syntax and Arguments

In Python a function is defined using the def keyword, followed by the function name, parentheses for the arguments (if any), and a colon. The function body is indented below the def statement. This is the basic syntax of a function:

 

Let’s break down the components of the function syntax:

  • def: The keyword used to define a function.
  • function_name: The name you choose to give your function. It should be meaningful and descriptive.
  • arg1, arg2, …: Arguments are optional and can be used to pass information into the function. They are enclosed in parentheses and separated by commas.
  • :: A colon is used to indicate the start of the function body.
  • Function body: The indented code block that contains the instructions to be executed when the function is called.
  • return: The return statement is used to specify the value the function should return. It is optional and can be omitted if the function does not need to return any value.

 

 

Function Arguments:

Python functions can accept different types of arguments, and it provides flexibility and customization. Let’s talk about the different types of arguments:

 

Python Required Arguments:

These are arguments that must be passed to the function in a specific order. The function expects the exact number of required arguments. Example:

 

 

Python Default Arguments:

Default arguments have predefined values assigned to them. If the argument is not provided when calling the function, the default value is used. Example:

 

 

Python Keyword Arguments:

Keyword arguments are passed with their corresponding parameter names, and it allows you to specify the values in any order. Example:

 

 

Variable-length Arguments:

Python allows you to define functions that can accept a variable number of arguments. There are two types:

  • *args: It allows you to pass a variable number of non-keyword arguments to the function as a tuple.
  • **kwargs: It allows you to pass a variable number of keyword arguments to the function as a dictionary. Example:

 

 

Python Lambda Functions

In Python lambda functions provide an easy way to define small and anonymous functions. Lambda functions are especially useful when you need a quick function definition without the need for a formal def statement. 

 

What are Lambda Functions ?

Lambda functions is also known as anonymous functions, they are are functions without a name. They are defined using the lambda keyword, followed by the function arguments and a single expression. The result of the expression is automatically returned. Lambda functions are typically used for one time or small scale operations and are not intended for complex logic.

 

 

Syntax of Python Lambda Functions:

This is the syntax of a lambda function in Python:

 

This is a simple example of a lambda function that calculates the square of a number:

In the above example, the lambda function takes a single argument x and returns the square of x. The lambda keyword indicates the start of the lambda function, followed by the argument(s), a colon, and the expression to be evaluated.

 

 

Practical Use Cases of Python Lambda Functions:

Lambda functions can be employed in various scenarios, including:

  • Sorting and filtering lists based on specific criteria.
  • Transforming elements in a list using map() or list comprehension.
  • Defining simple key functions for sorting dictionaries or custom objects.
  • Writing conditional expressions or simple mathematical operations.

 

 

 

 

Python Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Now it is time to dive in to more advanced and complex concepts of Python Object Oriented Programming, so Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a powerful programming paradigm that allows us to create modular and reusable code by organizing data and functionality into objects. Python is an object-oriented language, and it provides nice support for OOP concepts. In this section of Learn Python Step by Step, we want to talk about the fundamental concepts of OOP in Python, and also we want to focus on classes and objects.

 

 

Introduction to Python OOP: classes and objects

At the core of OOP are classes and objects. A class is a blueprint or template that defines the structure and behavior of objects, while an object is an instance of a class. In simple words we can say that a class can be seen as a blueprint for creating multiple objects with similar characteristics and behaviors.

 

 

Defining Python Class:

In Python, a class is defined using the class keyword, followed by the class name. This is an example of a simple class called Person:

In the above example we have defined a class called Person with two attributes, name and age. The __init__ method (also known as the constructor) is a special method that gets called automatically when creating an object from the class. It initializes the object’s attributes. We also define a method called greet, which allows the object to introduce itself.

 

 

Creating Python Objects:

After that a class is defined, we can create objects (also known as instances) from it. Each object represents a unique entity based on the class blueprint. This is an example of creating objects from the Person class:

In the above example, we have created two objects, person1 and person2, based on the Person class. We also provide the required arguments (name and age) to the constructor to initialize the object attributes.

 

 

Accessing Object Attributes and Methods:

For accessing the attributes and methods of an object, we use the dot notation. This is an example:

 

 

This is the complete code 

 

 

This will be the result

How to Learn Python Step by Step
How to Learn Python Step by Step

 

 

Benefits of Python Classes and Objects:

  1. Modularity and Reusability: Classes promote code modularity by encapsulating related data and functionality into a single entity. This makes the code more organized and easier to maintain. Also classes and objects can be reused in different parts of a program or even in different programs, reducing redundancy and improving code efficiency.
  2. Data Abstraction and Encapsulation: Classes provides data abstraction by hiding the internal details of an object and exposing only relevant information through methods. This enhances code security and prevents direct manipulation of object attributes. Encapsulation ensures that data and methods are bundled together, promoting data integrity and facilitating better code organization.
  3. Inheritance and Polymorphism: OOP allows the creation of new classes based on existing classes through inheritance. Inheritance enables the reuse of code and the creation of specialized classes that inherit attributes and methods from a base class. Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be used interchangeably, providing flexibility and extensibility.

 

 

Python Inheritance and Polymorphism

In object-oriented programming (OOP), inheritance and polymorphism are powerful concepts that allows us to create hierarchical relationships between classes and enable objects to be used interchangeably. Python provides support for both inheritance and polymorphism, because it enhances code reusability, flexibility and extensibility. In this section we want to talk about the concepts of inheritance and polymorphism in Python and understand how they contribute to building flexible and extensible code.

 

 

Understanding Inheritance:

Inheritance is a mechanism in which a new class, known as a derived class or subclass, inherits attributes and methods from an existing class, and we can call that as a base class or superclass. The derived class can extend or modify the functionality of the base class while inheriting its core characteristics. This promotes code reuse and allows for the creation of specialized classes.

 

 

Syntax of Python Inheritance:

In Python, inheritance is defined by specifying the base class inside parentheses after the derived class name. This is an example that demonstrates inheritance:

In the above example, we have a base class called Animal with an __init__ method and a speak method. The Dog class is derived from the Animal class and overrides the speak method to provide its own implementation. The dog object is created from the Dog class and can call the speak method, which outputs Dog barks.

 

 

Understanding Python Polymorphism:

Polymorphism is the ability of objects to take on multiple forms. In Python, polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated interchangeably if they share a common interface or base class. This enables more flexible and extensible code.

 

 

Syntax of Python Polymorphism:

Polymorphism in Python is achieved through method overriding and method overloading.

 

  1. Python Method Overriding: Method overriding occurs when a derived class provides its own implementation of a method inherited from the base class. The method in the derived class overrides the method in the base class, allowing for different behaviors. This is an example:

In the above example, the Shape class has an empty area method, which is overridden in the Rectangle and Circle classes. Each derived class provides its own implementation of the area method specific to its shape.

 

 

  1. Method Overloading: Method overloading refers to defining multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. However, Python does not support method overloading directly. Instead, polymorphism is achieved by using default values or by using variable length arguments (*args or **kwargs) to handle different parameter combinations.

 

 

Python Encapsulation and Data Hiding

Encapsulation is an important principle in object oriented programming (OOP) that promotes data security and code maintainability. It involves bundling data and related methods into a single unit called a class, and controlling access to the data through encapsulation mechanisms. Python provides features such as access modifiers and property decorators to implement encapsulation. 

 

Python provides three levels of access modifiers:

  1. Public Access (+): Public attributes and methods are accessible from anywhere, both within and outside the class. By default, all attributes and methods are public.
  2. Protected Access (#): Protected attributes and methods are indicated by a single underscore (_) prefix. They are accessible within the class and its subclasses but not from outside the class. However, Python does not enforce strict protection, and accessing protected members is still possible.
  3. Private Access (-): Private attributes and methods are indicated by a double underscore (__) prefix. They are accessible only inside the class itself and cannot be accessed from outside, not even in subclasses. Python internally performs name mangling to avoid naming conflicts.

 

 

 

Python File Handling

Now it is time to talk about file handling in Python, so in this section of Learn Python Step by Step blog post on we will completely talk about this concept.

 

Python Working with text files: reading, writing, and appending data

Text files are a common way to store and process textual data in Python. Python provides built-in functions and methods that makes it easy to read, write and append data to text files.

 

Python Reading Data from a Text File:

To read data from a text file, Python provides the open() function along with the read() or readlines() methods. This is an example: 

 

 

Python Writing Data to a Text File:

To write data to a text file, we use the open() function with the ‘w’ mode and the write() method. This is an example:

 

 

Python Appending Data to a Text File:

To append data to an existing text file, we use the open() function with the ‘a’ mode and the write() method. This is an example:

 

 

 

Python Handling Exceptions when Working with Files

When working with files in Python, it is important to handle exceptions to ensure that there is no error when we want to do file operations. Exceptions can occur during file opening, reading, writing or closing due to different reasons, such as file not found, insufficient permissions or incorrect file formats. 

 

 

Exception Handling with Try-Except Block:

Python provides try except block for handling exceptions. This block allows us to write code that might raise exceptions and gracefully handle them. This is an example of handling exceptions when opening a file:

 

 

Handling Multiple Exceptions:

You can handle multiple exceptions within a single except block or have multiple except blocks for different exceptions. This is an example:

In the above example, the except block handles both FileNotFoundError and PermissionError together. If either of these exceptions is raised, the block is executed. If any other exception occurs, it is caught by the generic Exception block.

 

 

Using Finally Block:

The finally block is used to execute code that should always run, regardless of whether an exception is raised or not. It is typically used to perform cleanup tasks, such as closing files. This is an example:

 

 

 

Python Error Handling

Now it is time let’s talk about error handling in Python, it is one of the important concept when we want to build error-free codes.

 

 

Python Identifying and Handling Runtime Errors

Runtime errors, also known as exceptions are errors that occur during the execution of a Python program. These errors can disrupt the normal flow of code and lead to program termination if not handled properly. 

 

Understanding Runtime Errors:

Runtime errors occur when the program encounters an unexpected condition or encounters an operation that cannot be performed. Common runtime errors in Python include:

  1. NameError: Raised when a variable or identifier is used before it is defined.
  2. TypeError: Raised when an operation is performed on an object of an inappropriate type.
  3. ValueError: Raised when a function receives an argument of the correct type but an inappropriate value.
  4. IndexError: Raised when an index is out of range.
  5. KeyError: Raised when a key is not found in a dictionary.
  6. ZeroDivisionError: Raised when dividing by zero.

 

 

Identifying Runtime Errors:

To identify runtime errors, Python provides a traceback message that shows the sequence of function calls leading to the error. The traceback provides valuable information, such as the error type, the line number where the error occurred, and the function stack trace. By carefully examining the traceback message, you can identify the cause of the error and the line of code that triggered it.

 

 

Python Handling Runtime Errors with Try-Except Block:

Python offers a mechanism to handle runtime errors using the try-except block. This block allows you to specify code that might raise an exception and define how to handle it. This is an example:

In this example, we attempt to divide 10 by zero, which raises a ZeroDivisionError. The except block specific to this error type is executed, printing the corresponding error message. The generic Exception block acts as a catch-all for any other exceptions that may occur.

 

 

Using Python finally Block:

finally block is used to execute code that should always run, regardless of whether an exception is raised or not. It is typically used to perform cleanup tasks or release resources. This is an example:

In this example, the finally block ensures that the “Program execution completed.” message is printed regardless of whether an exception occurred or not.

 

 

Python Regular Expressions

Now it is time to talk about Python regular expressions, now A regular expression, often abbreviated as regex, is a sequence of characters that define a search pattern. It consists of a combination of literal characters and metacharacters, which have special meanings. Regular expressions allows us to specify complex patterns for matching and manipulating strings.

 

 

Python Introduction to Regular Expressions and their Applications

Regular expressions are a powerful tool for pattern matching and text manipulation in Python. They provide an easy and flexible way to search, match and manipulate strings based on specific patterns. 

 

Using Regular Expressions in Python:

Python provides the re module, that allows us to work with regular expressions. This module offers functions and methods for pattern matching and string manipulation using regular expressions.

 

Common Functions and Methods in the re module:

  • re.search(pattern, string): Searches for the first occurrence of a pattern in a string.
  • re.match(pattern, string): Matches a pattern at the beginning of a string.
  • re.findall(pattern, string): Returns all occurrences of a pattern in a string.
  • re.sub(pattern, replacement, string): Replaces all occurrences of a pattern with a replacement in a string.

 

 

Regular Expression Metacharacters:

Regular expressions use different metacharacters to define patterns. Some commonly used metacharacters include:

  • . (dot): Matches any character except a newline.
  • * (asterisk): Matches zero or more occurrences of the preceding character or group.
  • + (plus): Matches one or more occurrences of the preceding character or group.
  • ? (question mark): Matches zero or one occurrence of the preceding character or group.
  • \ (backslash): Escapes a metacharacter or indicates a special sequence.

 

 

Usage of Python Regular Expressions:

  1. Text Search and Validation: Regular expressions can be used to search for specific patterns or validate the format of input data, such as email addresses, phone numbers or URLs.
  2. Data Extraction and Parsing: Regular expressions can extract specific information from structured or unstructured data, such as extracting names, dates or addresses from text.
  3. Text Manipulation and Formatting: Regular expressions enable the manipulation and formatting of text by replacing patterns, removing unwanted characters or splitting text into tokens.
  4. Web Scraping and Data Mining: Regular expressions are essential tools for extracting data from web pages or large datasets by matching patterns and extracting relevant information.

 

 

 

Learn on Python GUI Development

 

Leave a Comment