SBC3TT301 · Python Programming · Unit I

PYTHON PROGRAMMING · SBC 3TT301

Unit I
Introduction to Python & Operators

Basics · Syntax · Data Types · Variables · Comments · Operators

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SBC3TT301 · Python Programming · Unit I

Contents
Unit I — Introduction to Python & Operators

1.1 Introduction to Python — What Python is, and why it's widely used
1.2 Installing Python — Setting up Python and confirming it works
1.3 Basic Syntax — Core rules that shape how Python code is written
1.4 Data Types & Variables — How values are stored and labelled with names
1.5 Immutable Variables & Numeric Types — Why some values change in place and others don't
1.6 Comments & Command Line Arguments — Annotating code and reading terminal input
1.7 Operators — The symbols Python uses to act on values

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SBC3TT301 · Python Programming · Unit I

1.1 Introduction to Python

What Python is, and why it's widely used.

Python is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language known for its readable syntax
and broad standard library. It supports multiple paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and
functional programming.

Key Characteristics
– Simple & Readable — code reads close to plain English, reducing development time.
– Interpreted — code runs line-by-line via an interpreter; no separate compile step.
– Cross-Platform — the same Python code runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
– Batteries Included — comes with built-in modules for files, math, networking, and more.
– Versatile — widely used in web development, data science, automation, and AI.

1.2 Installing Python

Setting up Python on your machine and confirming it works.

Python can be installed from the official source or via package managers. Once installed, two tools are
commonly used to run code:

Step Action Notes

1 Download installer From [Link] for your OS
2 Run setup Tick ‘Add Python to PATH’ on Windows
3 Verify install Run python --version in terminal
4 Use IDLE / IDE IDLE ships with Python; VS Code is popular

Quick Check

$ python --version
Python 3.12.x

$ python
>>> print("Hello, Python")
Hello, Python

1.3 Basic Syntax

The core rules that shape how Python code is written.

– Indentation — blocks are defined by consistent spacing, not braces.

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– Statement End — no semicolon required; one statement per line.

– Case Sensitivity — identifiers are case-sensitive (Age ≠ age).
– Keywords — module names — keywords like if, def, class are reserved.

if 5 > 2:
print("Five is greater than two")
else:
print("Condition false")

1.4 Data Types & Variables

How values are stored and labelled with names in Python.

A variable is a name bound to a value. Python is dynamically typed — you don't declare a type; it's inferred
from the assigned value.

Data Types at a Glance

Assignment

x = 10 # simple assignment
a=b=c=0 # multiple assignment
x, y = 1, 2 # tuple unpacking

1.5 Immutable Variables & Numeric Types

Why some values can change in place and others can't.

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An immutable object's value cannot change after creation; any ‘modification’ actually creates a new
object. int, float, str, and tuple are immutable. list and dict are mutable.

Numeric Type Description Example

int Integers, unlimited precision 10, -3, 1000000
float Floating-point numbers 3.14, -0.5
complex Complex numbers (a + bj) 2 + 3j

x=5
y=x # y now also refers to 5
x=6 # a NEW int object is created
print(y) # 5 -- y is unaffected

1.6 Comments & Command Line Arguments

Annotating code and reading input passed in from the terminal.

Comments
Notes in the code that the interpreter ignores; used to explain logic for readers.

# This is a single-line comment

"""
This is a multi-line comment
(technically a string literal)
"""

Command Line Arguments

Also known as "Command Line Arguments," this concept is about passing data to a Python program from
the outside. In other words, instead of running the program through the idle, it runs directly on the OS
terminal.
To capture these outside instructions, Python uses a built-in module called sys. Specifically, it uses a list
called [Link] (which stands for "System Argument Vector").

import sys
print("Script name:", [Link][0])
print("Arguments:", [Link][1:])

# Instead of just clicking a "Run" button in your IDE, you open your terminal and type:
# Run as: python [Link] hello world

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# Output: Arguments: ['hello', 'world']

1.7 Operators

The symbols Python uses to act on values and build expressions.

Operators act on values (operands) to produce a result. Python groups them into six categories.

Arithmetic Operators
Perform mathematical calculations.

Operator Description Example

+ Addition 5+3→8
- Subtraction 5-3→2
* Multiplication 5 * 3 → 15
/ Division (float) 5 / 2 → 2.5
// Floor division 5 // 2 → 2
% Modulus (remainder) 5%2→1
** Exponentiation 5 ** 2 → 25

Example

a, b = 10, 3
print(a + b) # 13
print(a - b) # 7
print(a * b) # 30
print(a / b) # 3.333...
print(a // b) # 3
print(a % b) # 1
print(a ** b) # 1000

Comparison Operators
Compare two values; always return a Boolean.

Operator Description Example

== Equal to 5 == 5 → True
!= Not equal to 5 != 3 → True

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Operator Description Example

> Greater than 5 > 3 → True
< Less than 5 < 3 → False
>= Greater than or equal to 5 >= 5 → True
<= Less than or equal to 5 <= 3 → False

Example

a, b = 10, 3
print(a == b) # False
print(a != b) # True
print(a > b) # True
print(a < b) # False
print(a >= b) # True
print(a <= b) # False

Assignment Operators
Assign a value, optionally combined with an operation.

Operator Description Example

= Assign value x=5
+= Add and assign x += 3
-= Subtract and assign x -= 3
*= Multiply and assign x *= 3
/= Divide and assign x /= 3
//= Floor divide and assign x //= 3
%= Modulus and assign x %= 3
**= Exponent and assign x **= 3

Example

x=5
x += 3 #x=8
x -= 2 #x=6
x *= 4 # x = 24
x //= 3 #x=8

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Logical Operators
Combine Boolean expressions.

Operator Description Example

and True if both are true True and False → False
or True if at least one is true True or False → True
not Reverses the result not True → False

Example

p, q = True, False
print(p and q) # False
print(p or q) # True
print(not p) # False

Membership Operators
Test whether a value exists in a sequence.

Operator Description Example

in True if found in sequence 3 in [1,2,3] → True
not in True if not found in sequence 5 not in [1,2,3] → True

Example

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

print("banana" in fruits) # True
print("mango" not in fruits) # True

Identity Operators
Check whether two variables reference the same object.

Operator Description Example

is True if same object x is y
is not True if not the same object x is not y

Example

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list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = [1, 2, 3]
list3 = list1

print(list1 is list2) # False - different objects

print(list1 is list3) # True - same object
print(list1 is not list2) # True

Unit I — Quick Recap

– Python Basics — dynamic typing, indentation-based syntax, interpreted execution.
– Core Data Types — int, float, str, bool, list, tuple, dict.
– Mutability — immutable types create new objects on change; mutable types update in place.
– Six Operator Families — arithmetic, comparison, assignment, logical, membership, identity.

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