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Python Programming
Python is a high-level, interpreted, interactive and object-oriented
scripting language. Python is designed to be highly readable. It uses
English keywords frequently where as other languages use punctuation,
and it has fewer syntactical constructions than other languages.
• Python is Interpreted: Python is processed at runtime by the interpreter.
You do not need to compile your program before executing it.
Python Source Code Process/Run
By the Interpreter
• Python is Interactive: You can actually sit at a Python prompt and interact
with the interpreter directly to write your programs.
• Python is Object-Oriented: Python supports Object-Oriented style or
technique of programming that encapsulates code within objects.
• Python is a Beginner's Language: Python is a great language for the
beginner-level programmers and supports the development of a wide range of
applications from simple text processing to WWW browsers to games.
History of Python
Python was developed by Guido van Rossum in the late eighties and
early nineties in the Netherlands.
Achintha Pradeep - BSc(Hons), MSc(IT) P.G. EDUCATION Computer Science
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Apps made using Python
Examples:
• Youtube
• Dropbox
• Google
• Netflix
Variables
Variable is a memory location in the computer memory.
There are rules in Python about variables. A variable name must;
• Be one word only-no spaces
• Use only letters, numbers and the underscore character.
• Start with a letter.
Ex 1: Password=”diamond7”
Ex 2: Name=input (“What is your name ?”)
Create an algorithm
The algorithm works as a plan when you make a program.
Ex:
Set total to 0
Input a number
Add number to total to give the new total
Output the total
Python Installation
There are 2 methods to obtain Python.
1. [Link]
2. Use of an online compiler
Ex: [Link]
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Display a Simple Text
>>> "Hello Python" Correct output with “ “
'Hello Python'
>>> 'Hello Python' Correct output with ‘ ‘
'Hello Python'
>>> Hello Python Compilation error ! (No ‘ or “)
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
Display a Simple Text with “print”
>>> print ("hello") Correct output. Python allows for
either pairs of single or double
hello quotes.
>>> print ('hello')
hello
>>> print ("hello"); Print with ;
hello
>>> print ("hello");
hello
>>> print (hello) Compilation error (No ‘ or “)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<pyshell#9>", line 1, in <module>
print (hello)
NameError: name 'hello' is not defined. Did you mean: 'help'?
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>>> print ("Achintha Pradeep-for computer classes...");
Achintha Pradeep-for computer classes...
Several “print” statements…
>>> print ("Achintha Pradeep"); print ("-for computer classes...");
Achintha Pradeep
- for computer classes...
Display a Number
>>> 100
100
>>> "100"
'100'
>>> '100'
'100'
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Performing a Calculations (without using variables)
>>> 100+100 Correct way
200
>>> "100"+"100" Run time error (No compilation error)
'100100'
>>> '100'+'100' Run time error (No compilation error)
'100100'
Run time errors mean output errors.
Single Assignments
>>> a=10
>>> a
10
>>> a=10
>>> print (a)
10
>>> a=10
>>> "a"
'a' Run time error (No compilation error)
>>> 'a'
'a' Run time error (No compilation error)
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Performing a Calculation (with using variables)
Variable is a memory location created in the main memory (RAM). You can use any
character or name for a variable. (Ex: a, age, price1, My_choice etc ….)
>>> a=10
>>> print (a+10)
20
>>> print (a*10)
100
>>> a=10
>>> b=20
>>> print (a+b)
30
>>> print (a+b)+(b-a)
40
>>> print ((a+b)+(b-a))
40
>>> price1=25.00
>>> price2=1500.25
>>> Total_price=price1+price2
>>> print (Total_price)
1525.25
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Multiple Assignments
>>> a=b=c=1
>>> a
>>> b
>>> c
>>> print (a)
>>> print (b)
>>> print (c)
>>> a, b, c =1,2,"Achintha"
>>> a
>>> b
>>> c
'Achintha'
>>> print (a)
>>> print (b)
>>> print (c) → Achintha
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Python Comments and Multiline
Comments in Python are used to explain what the code does.
print("hi 1") # This is single line comment
print("hi 2")
""" This
is
a multi line
comment """
Python Strings
Strings in Python are identified as a contiguous set of characters
represented in the quotation marks. Python allows for either pairs of single
or double quotes. Subsets of strings can be taken using the slice operator
([ ] and [:] ) with indexes starting at 0 in the beginning of the string.
The plus (+) sign is the string concatenation operator and the asterisk (*)
is the repetition operator. For example −
str='Hello World!'
print str # Prints complete string
print str[0] # Prints first character of the string
print str[2:5] # Prints characters starting from 3rd to 5thprint
str[2:] # Prints string starting from 3rd character
print str*2 # Printsstring two times
print str+"TEST"# Prints concatenated string
This will produce the following result
Hello World!
H
llo
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llo World!
Hello World!Hello
World!
Hello World!TEST
Python Arithmetic Operators
Assume variable a holds 10 and variable b holds 20, then
Operator Description Example
+ Addition Adds values on either side of the operator. a + b = 30
- Subtraction Subtracts right hand operand from left hand a – b = -10
operand.
* Multiplies values on either side of the operator a * b = 200
Multiplication
/ Division Divides left hand operand by right hand operand b/a=2
% Modulus Divides left hand operand by right hand operand b%a=0
and returns remainder
** Exponent Performs exponential (power) calculation on a**b =10 to
operators the power 20
// Floor Division - The division of operands where 9//2 = 4 and
the result is the quotient in which the digits after 9.0//2.0 =
the decimal point are removed. 4.0
a=10
b=20
print a+b
print a*b
print a+10
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print 2**3
print a**b
print b/a
print b%a
Python Comparison Operators
These operators compare the values on either sides of them and decide
the relation among them. They are also called Relational operators.
Assume variable a holds 10 and variable b holds 20, then −
Operator Description Example
== If the values of two operands are equal, then the (a == b) is not
condition becomes true. true.
!= If values of two operands are not equal, then
condition becomes true.
<> If values of two operands are not equal, then (a <> b) is true.
condition becomes true. This is similar to
!= operator.
> If the value of left operand is greater than the (a > b) is not true.
value of right operand, then condition becomes
true.
< If the value of left operand is less than the value (a < b) is true.
of right operand, then condition becomes true.
>= If the value of left operand is greater than or (a >= b) is not
equal to the value of right operand, then true.
condition becomes true.
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<= If the value of left operand is less than or equal (a <= b) is true.
to the value of right operand, then condition
becomes true.
a=10
b=20
print a==b
print a!=b
print a<>b
print a>b
Python Decision Making
Decision making is anticipation of conditions occurring while execution of
the program and specifying actions taken according to the conditions.
Decision structures evaluate multiple expressions which produce TRUE or
FALSE as outcome. You need to determine which action to take and
which statements to execute if outcome is TRUE or FALSE otherwise.
Following is the general form of a typical decision making structure found
in most of the programming languages −
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Python programming language assumes any non-zero and non-
null values as TRUE, and if it is either zero or null, then it is assumed
as FALSE value.
Python programming language provides following types of decision
making statements. Click the following links to check their detail.
Statement Description
if statements An if statement consists of a boolean expression
followed by one or more statements.
An if statement can be followed by an optional else
if...else statements
statement, which executes when the boolean
expression is FALSE.
You can use one if or else if statement inside
nested if statements
another if or else if statement(s).
weight = float(input("How many pounds does your suitcase
weigh? "))if weight > 50: If [Link]
print("There is a $25 charge for luggage that heavy.")
print("Thank you for your business.")
temp=float(input('What is the temp? ')) If [Link]
if temp>70:
print('Wear shorts')
else:
print('Wear long')
print('Get excercises')
print (temp)
P.G. EDUCATION
Achintha Pradeep - BSc(Hons), MSc(IT) Computer Science