Python Programming Language Overview
Python Programming Language Overview
Features in Python
History of python
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Machine learning
Python has the best support for ML across all programming languages because of
heavyweight libraries like TensorFlow and Keras. Furthermore, Python’s easy
syntax and simplicity makes it the programming language of choice for ML experts
and data scientists.
Data science
Python has wonderful tools for data analysis and visualization, making it a
reasonable choice at any point in a data pipeline.
Python Keywords
False await else import pass
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All the keywords except True, False and None are in lowercase and they must be
written as they are.
Python Identifiers
An identifier is a name given to entities like class, functions, variables, etc. It helps
to differentiate one entity from another.
Every value in Python has a datatype. Different data types in Python are Numbers,
List, Tuple, Strings, Dictionary, etc. Variables in Python can be declared by any
name or even alphabets like a, aa, abc, etc.
A variable is a named location used to store data in the memory. It is helpful to
think of variables as a container that holds data that can be changed later in the
program. For example,
number = 10
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a, b, c = 5, 3.2, "Hello"
print (a)
print (b)
print (c)
Constants
Create a [Link]:
PI = 3.14
GRAVITY = 9.8
Create a [Link]:
import constant
print([Link])
print([Link])
my_name
current_salary
4. Use capital letters possible to declare a constant. For example:
PI
G
MASS
SPEED_OF_LIGHT
TEMP
5. Never use special symbols like !, @, #, $, %, etc.
6. Don't start a variable name with a digit.
Literals
Literal is a raw data given in a variable or constant. In Python, there are various
types of literals they are as follows:
Numeric Literals
Numeric Literals are immutable (unchangeable). Numeric literals can belong to 3
different numerical types: Integer, Float, and Complex.
#Float Literal
float_1 = 10.5
float_2 = 1.5e2
#Complex Literal
x = 3.14j
print(a, b, c, d)
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print(float_1, float_2)
print(x, [Link], [Link])
Output
10 100 200 300
10.5 150.0
3.14j 3.14 0.0
In the above program,
We assigned integer literals into different variables. Here, a is binary literal, b is a
decimal literal, c is an octal literal and d is a hexadecimal literal.
When we print the variables, all the literals are converted into decimal values.
10.5 and 1.5e2 are floating-point literals. 1.5e2 is expressed with exponential and
is equivalent to 1.5 * 102 .
We assigned a complex literal i.e 3.14j in variable x. Then we
use imaginary literal ([Link]) and real literal ([Link]) to create imaginary and real
parts of complex numbers.
String literals
print(strings)
print(char)
print(multiline_str)
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print(unicode)
print(raw_str)
Output
This is Python
C
This is a multiline string with more than one line code.
Ünicöde
raw \n string
In the above program, This is Python is a string literal and C is a character literal.
The value in triple-quotes """ assigned to the multiline_str is a multi-line string
literal.
The string u"\u00dcnic\u00f6de" is a Unicode literal which supports characters
other than English. In this case, \u00dc represents Ü and \u00f6 represents ö.
r"raw \n string" is a raw string literal.
Boolean literals
A Boolean literal can have any of the two values: True or False.
x = (1 == True)
y = (1 == False)
a = True + 4
b = False + 10
print("x is", x)
print("y is", y)
print("a:", a)
print("b:", b)
Output
x is True
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y is False
a: 5
b: 10
Special literals
Python contains one special literal i.e. None. We use it to specify that the field has
not been created.
def menu(x):
if x == drink:
print(drink)
else:
print(food)
menu(drink)
menu(food)
Output
Available
None
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In the above program, we define a menu function. Inside menu, when we set the
argument as drink then, it displays Available. And, when the argument is food, it
displays None.
Literal Collections
There are four different literal collections List literals, Tuple literals, Dict literals,
and Set literals.
print(fruits)
print(numbers)
print(alphabets)
print(vowels)
Output
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Data Types
You can get the data type of any object by using the type() function:
Example
Print the data type of the variable x:
x=5
print(type(x))
In Python, the data type is set when you assign a value to a variable:
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x = 20 int
x = 20.5 float
x = 1j complex
x = range(6) range
x = True bool
x = b"Hello" bytes
x = bytearray(5) bytearray
x = memoryview(bytes(5)) memoryview
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x = int(20) int
x = float(20.5) float
x = complex(1j) complex
x = range(6) range
x = bool(5) bool
x = bytes(5) bytes
x = bytearray(5) bytearray
x = memoryview(bytes(5)) memoryview
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input ( prompt )
input ( ) : This function first takes the input from the user and
then evaluates the expression, which means Python
automatically identifies whether user entered a string or a
number or list. If the input provided is not correct then either
syntax error or exception is raised by python. For example –
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Operators
Arithmetic Operators
Comparison Operators
o Equality Comparison on Floating-Point Values
Logical Operators
o Logical Expressions Involving Boolean Operands
o Evaluation of Non-Boolean Values in Boolean Context
o Logical Expressions Involving Non-Boolean Operands
o Compound Logical Expressions and Short-Circuit Evaluation
o Idioms That Exploit Short-Circuit Evaluation
o Chained Comparisons
Bitwise Operators
Identity Operators
Operator Precedence
Augmented Assignment Operators
Arithmetic Operators
The following table lists the arithmetic operators supported by Python:
Operator Example Meaning Result
+ (unary) +a Unary Positive a
In other words, it doesn’t really do
anything. It mostly exists for the sake
of completeness, to
complement Unary Negation.
+ (binary) a + b Addition Sum of a and b
- (unary) -a Unary Negation Value equal to a but opposite in sign
- (binary) a - b Subtraction b subtracted from a
* a*b Multiplication Product of a and b
/ a/b Division Quotient when a is divided by b.
The result always has type float.
% a%b Modulo Remainder when a is divided by b
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Comparison Operators
Operator Example Meaning Result
== a == b Equal to True if the value of a is equal to the
value of b
False otherwise
!= a != b Not equal to True if a is not equal to b
False otherwise
< a<b Less than True if a is less than b
False otherwise
<= a <= b Less than or equal to True if a is less than or equal to b
False otherwise
> a>b Greater than True if a is greater than b
False otherwise
>= a >= b Greater than or True if a is greater than or equal to b
equal to False otherwise
Logical Operators
The logical operators not, or, and and modify and join together expressions
evaluated in Boolean context to create more complex conditions.
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Bitwise Operators
Bitwise operators treat operands as sequences of binary digits and operate on them
bit by bit. The following operators are supported:
Identity Operators
Python provides two operators, is and is not, that determine whether the given
operands have the same identity—that is, refer to the same object. This is not the
same thing as equality, which means the two operands refer to objects that contain
the same data but are not necessarily the same object.
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Here is an example of two object that are equal but not identical:
>>> x = 1001
>>> y = 1000 + 1
>>> print(x, y)
1001 1001
>>> x == y
True
>>> x is y
False
Here is the order of precedence of the Python operators you have seen so far, from
lowest to highest:
Operator Description
lowest or Boolean OR
precedence
and Boolean AND
not Boolean NOT
==, !=, <, <=, >, >=, is, is comparisons, identity
not
| bitwise OR
^ bitwise XOR
& bitwise AND
<<, >> bit shifts
+, - addition, subtraction
*, /, //, % multiplication, division, floor
division, modulo
+x, -x, ~x unary positive, unary negation,
bitwise negation
highest ** exponentiation
precedence
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Decision Control statement is a statement that determines the control flow of a set
of instructions. means D.C.S decides the sequence in which instruction in the
program is to be executed.
1. Sequential Control
2. Selection Control
3. iterative Control
Sequential Control
-When the program is executed line by line means from the first line to the second
line then from the second line to the third line and so on. This method is called
Sequential Control.
- When we execute only a selected set of statements then we use the Selection
control statement. It usually jumps from one part of the code to another depending
on whether a particular condition is satisfied or not.
In Selection Control Statement we learn about –
If statement
If -else statement
If-elif-else statement
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If Statement
if (test_expression) :
statement1
…………..
statement n
statement x
If — else Statement
The use of If — else statement is very simple. When you run your program, The
test expression is evaluated and if the result is True, the statement followed by the
expression is executed, else if the expression is False, the statement followed by the
expression is executed.
if ( test expression ) :
statement block 1
else :
statement block 2
statement x
Python supports if — elif — else statements to test additional conditions apart from
the initial test expression. The if- elif — else constructs works in the same way
as usual to if-else statement. One more thing to remember that it is not necessary
that every if statement should have an else block as python supports simple if
statements also.
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else:
statement block X
Statement Y
These conditions can be used in several ways, most commonly in "if statements"
and loops.
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If statement:
a = 33
b = 200
if b > a:
print("b is greater than a")
In this example we use two variables, a and b, which are used as part of the if
statement to test whether b is greater than a. As a is 33, and b is 200, we know that
200 is greater than 33, and so we print to screen that "b is greater than a".
Indentation
Python relies on indentation (whitespace at the beginning of a line) to define scope
in the code. Other programming languages often use curly-brackets for this
purpose.
Example
If statement, without indentation (will raise an error):
a = 33
b = 200
if b > a:
print("b is greater than a") # you will get an error
elif
The elif keyword is pythons way of saying "if the previous conditions were not
true, then try this condition".
Example
a = 33
b = 33
if b > a:
print("b is greater than a")
elif a == b:
print("a and b are equal")
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else
The else keyword catches anything which isn't caught by the preceding conditions.
Example
a = 200
b = 33
if b > a:
print("b is greater than a")
elif a == b:
print("a and b are equal")
else:
print("a is greater than b")
In this example a is greater than b, so the first condition is not true, also
the elif condition is not true, so we go to the else condition and print to screen that
"a is greater than b".
Example
a = 200
b = 33
if b > a:
print("b is greater than a")
else:
print("b is not greater than a")
Short Hand If
If you have only one statement to execute, you can put it on the same line as the if
statement.
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Example
One line if statement:
if a > b: print("a is greater than b")
Example
One line if else statement:
a=2
b = 330
print("A") if a > b else print("B")
Example
One line if else statement, with 3 conditions:
a = 330
b = 330
print("A") if a > b else print("=") if a == b else print("B")
And
The and keyword is a logical operator, and is used to combine conditional
statements:
Example
Test if a is greater than b, AND if c is greater than a:
a = 200
b = 33
c = 500
if a > b and c > a:
print("Both conditions are True")
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Or
The or keyword is a logical operator, and is used to combine conditional
statements:
Example
Test if a is greater than b, OR if a is greater than c:
a = 200
b = 33
c = 500
if a > b or a > c:
print("At least one of the conditions is True")
Nested If
You can have if statements inside if statements, this is called nested if statements.
Example
x = 41
if x > 10:
print("Above ten,")
if x > 20:
print("and also above 20!")
else:
print("but not above 20.")
if b > a:
pass
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Loops
i=1
while i < 6:
print(i)
if i == 3:
break
i += 1
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i=0
while i < 6:
i += 1
if i == 3:
continue
print(i)
For Loop
A for loop is used for iterating over a sequence (that is either a list, a tuple, a
dictionary, a set, or a string).
This is less like the for keyword in other programming languages, and works more
like an iterator method as found in other object-orientated programming languages.
With the for loop we can execute a set of statements, once for each item in a list,
tuple, set etc.
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Example
Do not print banana:
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for x in range(6):
print(x)
else:
print("Finally finished!")
Nested Loops
A nested loop is a loop inside a loop.
The "inner loop" will be executed one time for each iteration of the "outer loop":
Example
Print each adjective for every fruit:
for x in adj:
for y in fruits:
print(x, y)
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Lists
List
Lists are used to store multiple items in a single variable.
Lists are one of 4 built-in data types in Python used to store collections of data, the
other 3 are Tuple, Set, and Dictionary, all with different qualities and usage.
Lists are created using square brackets:
Example
Create a List:
List Items
List items are ordered, changeable, and allow duplicate values.
List items are indexed, the first item has index [0], the second item has
index [1] etc.
Ordered
When we say that lists are ordered, it means that the items have a defined order,
and that order will not change.
If you add new items to a list, the new items will be placed at the end of the list.
Note: There are some list methods that will change the order, but in general: the
order of the items will not change.
Changeable
The list is changeable, meaning that we can change, add, and remove items in a list
after it has been created.
Allow Duplicates
Since lists are indexed, lists can have items with the same value:
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Example
Lists allow duplicate values:
List Length
To determine how many items a list has, use the len() function:
Example
Print the number of items in the list:
type()
From Python's perspective, lists are defined as objects with the data type 'list':
<class 'list'>
Example
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Collections (Arrays)
There are four collection data types in the Python programming language:
Access Items
List items are indexed and you can access them by referring to the index number:
Example
Print the second item of the list:
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Range of Indexes
You can specify a range of indexes by specifying where to start and where to end
the range.
When specifying a range, the return value will be a new list with the specified
items.
Example
Return the third, fourth, and fifth item:
Note: The search will start at index 2 (included) and end at index 5 (not included).
Remember that the first item has index 0.
By leaving out the start value, the range will start at the first item:
Example
This example returns the items from the beginning to, but NOT including, "kiwi":
By leaving out the end value, the range will go on to the end of the list:
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Example
This example returns the items from "cherry" to the end:
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If you insert more items than you replace, the new items will be inserted where you
specified, and the remaining items will move accordingly:
Example
Change the second value by replacing it with two new values:
Note: The length of the list will change when the number of items inserted does
not match the number of items replaced.
If you insert less items than you replace, the new items will be inserted where you
specified, and the remaining items will move accordingly:
Example
Change the second and third value by replacing it with one value:
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Insert Items
To insert a new list item, without replacing any of the existing values, we can use
the insert() method.
The insert() method inserts an item at the specified index:
Example
Insert "watermelon" as the third item:
Append Items
To add an item to the end of the list, use the append() method:
Example
Using the append() method to append an item:
Insert Items
To insert a list item at a specified index, use the insert() method.
The insert() method inserts an item at the specified index:
Example
Insert an item as the second position:
Note: As a result of the examples above, the lists will now contain 4 items.
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Extend List
To append elements from another list to the current list, use the extend() method.
Example
Add the elements of tropical to thislist:
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If you do not specify the index, the pop() method removes the last item.
Example
Remove the last item:
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Loop Lists
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Use the len() function to determine the length of the list, then start at 0 and loop
your way through the list items by refering to their indexes.
Remember to increase the index by 1 after each iteration.
Example
Print all items, using a while loop to go through all the index numbers
Learn more about while loops in our Python While Loops Chapter.
List Comprehension
List comprehension offers a shorter syntax when you want to create a new list
based on the values of an existing list.
Example:
Based on a list of fruits, you want a new list, containing only the fruits with the
letter "a" in the name.
Without list comprehension you will have to write a for statement with a
conditional test inside:
Example
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for x in fruits:
if "a" in x:
[Link](x)
print(newlist)
With list comprehension you can do all that with only one line of code:
Example
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "kiwi", "mango"]
newlist = [x for x in fruits if "a" in x]
print(newlist)
The Syntax
newlist = [expression for item in iterable if condition == True]
The return value is a new list, leaving the old list unchanged.
Condition
The condition is like a filter that only accepts the items that valuate to True.
Example
Only accept items that are not "apple":
The condition if x != "apple" will return True for all elements other than "apple",
making the new list contain all fruits except "apple".
The condition is optional and can be omitted:
Example
With no if statement:
Iterable
The iterable can be any iterable object, like a list, tuple, set etc.
Example
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Expression
The expression is the current item in the iteration, but it is also the outcome, which
you can manipulate before it ends up like a list item in the new list:
Example
Set the values in the new list to upper case:
The expression can also contain conditions, not like a filter, but as a way to
manipulate the outcome:
Example
Return "orange" instead of "banana":
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Sort Lists
Example
Sort the list numerically:
Sort Descending
To sort descending, use the keyword argument reverse = True:
Example
Sort the list descending:
Example
Sort the list descending:
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def myfunc(n):
return abs(n - 50)
Luckily we can use built-in functions as key functions when sorting a list.
So if you want a case-insensitive sort function, use [Link] as a key function:
Example
Perform a case-insensitive sort of the list:
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Reverse Order
What if you want to reverse the order of a list, regardless of the alphabet?
The reverse() method reverses the current sorting order of the elements.
Example
Reverse the order of the list items:
Copy a List
You cannot copy a list simply by typing list2 = list1, because: list2 will only be
a reference to list1, and changes made in list1 will automatically also be made
in list2.
There are ways to make a copy, one way is to use the built-in List method copy().
Example
Make a copy of a list with the copy() method:
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Another way to join two lists are by appending all the items from list2 into list1,
one by one:
Example
Append list2 into list1:
for x in list2:
[Link](x)
print(list1)
Or you can use the extend() method, which purpose is to add elements from one
list to another list:
Example
Use the extend() method to add list2 at the end of list1:
[Link](list2)
print(list1)
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List Methods
Python has a set of built-in methods that you can use on lists.
Method Description
extend() Add the elements of a list (or any iterable), to the end of the current
list
index() Returns the index of the first element with the specified value
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Tuples
Tuple
Tuples are used to store multiple items in a single variable.
Tuple is one of 4 built-in data types in Python used to store collections of data, the
other 3 are List, Set, and Dictionary, all with different qualities and usage.
A tuple is a collection which is ordered and unchangeable.
Tuples are written with round brackets.
Example
Create a Tuple:
Tuple Items
Tuple items are ordered, unchangeable, and allow duplicate values.
Tuple items are indexed, the first item has index [0], the second item has
index [1] etc.
Ordered
When we say that tuples are ordered, it means that the items have a defined order,
and that order will not change.
Unchangeable
Tuples are unchangeable, meaning that we cannot change, add or remove items
after the tuple has been created.
Allow Duplicates
Since tuple are indexed, tuples can have items with the same value:
Example
Tuples allow duplicate values:
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Tuple Length
To determine how many items a tuple has, use the len() function:
Example
Print the number of items in the tuple:
thistuple = ("apple",)
print(type(thistuple))
#NOT a tuple
thistuple = ("apple")
print(type(thistuple))
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Example
A tuple with strings, integers and boolean values:
type()
From Python's perspective, tuples are defined as objects with the data type 'tuple':
<class 'tuple'>
Example
What is the data type of a tuple?
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Negative Indexing
Negative indexing means start from the end.
-1 refers to the last item, -2 refers to the second last item etc.
Example
Print the last item of the tuple:
Range of Indexes
You can specify a range of indexes by specifying where to start and where to end
the range.
When specifying a range, the return value will be a new tuple with the specified
items.
Example
Return the third, fourth, and fifth item:
Note: The search will start at index 2 (included) and end at index 5 (not included).
Remember that the first item has index 0.
By leaving out the start value, the range will start at the first item:
Example
This example returns the items from the beginning to, but NOT included, "kiwi":
By leaving out the end value, the range will go on to the end of the list:
Example
This example returns the items from "cherry" and to the end:
thistuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry", "orange", "kiwi", "melon", "mango")
print(thistuple[2:])
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Add Items
Once a tuple is created, you cannot add items to it.
Example
You cannot add items to a tuple:
Just like the workaround for changing a tuple, you can convert it into a list, add
your item(s), and convert it back into a tuple.
Example
Convert the tuple into a list, add "orange", and convert it back into a tuple:
Remove Items
Note: You cannot remove items in a tuple.
Tuples are unchangeable, so you cannot remove items from it, but you can use the
same workaround as we used for changing and adding tuple items:
Example
Convert the tuple into a list, remove "apple", and convert it back into a tuple:
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Unpacking a Tuple
When we create a tuple, we normally assign values to it. This is called "packing" a
tuple:
Example
Packing a tuple:
fruits = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
But, in Python, we are also allowed to extract the values back into variables. This
is called "unpacking":
Example
Unpacking a tuple:
Note: The number of variables must match the number of values in the tuple, if
not, you must use an asterix to collect the remaining values as a list.
Using Asterisk*
If the number of variables is less than the number of values, you can add an * to
the variable name and the values will be assigned to the variable as a list:
Example
Assign the rest of the values as a list called "red":
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If the asterix is added to another variable name than the last, Python will assign
values to the variable until the number of values left matches the number of
variables left.
Example
Add a list of values the "tropic" variable:
Loop Tuples
Learn more about for loops in our Python For Loops Chapter.
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Multiply Tuples
If you want to multiply the content of a tuple a given number of times, you can use
the * operator:
Example
Multiply the fruits tuple by 2:
Tuple Methods
Python has two built-in methods that you can use on tuples.
Method Description
index() Searches the tuple for a specified value and returns the position
of where it was found
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Python Sets
Set
Sets are used to store multiple items in a single variable.
Set is one of 4 built-in data types in Python used to store collections of data, the
other 3 are List, Tuple, and Dictionary, all with different qualities and usage.
A set is a collection which is both unordered and unindexed.
Sets are written with curly brackets.
Example
Create a Set:
Note: Sets are unordered, so you cannot be sure in which order the items will
appear.
Set Items
Set items are unordered, unchangeable, and do not allow duplicate values.
Unordered
Unordered means that the items in a set do not have a defined order.
Set items can appear in a different order every time you use them, and cannot be
referred to by index or key.
Unchangeable
Sets are unchangeable, meaning that we cannot change the items after the set has
been created.
Once a set is created, you cannot change its items, but you can add new items.
Example
Duplicate values will be ignored:
type()
From Python's perspective, sets are defined as objects with the data type 'set':
<class 'set'>
Example
What is the data type of a set?
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Access Items
You cannot access items in a set by referring to an index or a key.
But you can loop through the set items using a for loop, or ask if a specified value
is present in a set, by using the in keyword.
Example
Loop through the set, and print the values:
Example
Check if "banana" is present in the set:
Change Items
Once a set is created, you cannot change its items, but you can add new items.
Add Items
Once a set is created, you cannot change its items, but you can add new items.
To add one item to a set use the add() method.
Example
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Add Sets
To add items from another set into the current set, use the update() method.
Example
Add elements from tropical and thisset into newset:
Remove Item
To remove an item in a set, use the remove(), or the discard() method.
Example
Remove "banana" by using the remove() method:
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Note: If the item to remove does not exist, remove() will raise an error.
Example
Remove "banana" by using the discard() method:
Note: If the item to remove does not exist, discard() will NOT raise an error.
You can also use the pop() method to remove an item, but this method will remove
the last item. Remember that sets are unordered, so you will not know what item
that gets removed.
Note: Sets are unordered, so when using the pop() method, you do not know
which item that gets removed.
Example
The clear() method empties the set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
[Link]()
print(thisset)
Example
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Loop Items
You can loop through the set items by using a for loop:
Example
Loop through the set, and print the values:
Example
The update() method inserts the items in set2 into set1:
set1 = {"a", "b" , "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
[Link](set2)
print(set1)
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Note: Both union() and update() will exclude any duplicate items.
The intersection() method will return a new set, that only contains the items that
are present in both sets.
Example
Return a set that contains the items that exist in both set x, and set y:
x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
y = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
z = [Link](y)
print(z)
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The symmetric_difference() method will return a new set, that contains only the
elements that are NOT present in both sets.
Example
Return a set that contains all items from both sets, except items that are present in
both:
x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
y = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
z = x.symmetric_difference(y)
print(z)
Set Methods
Python has a set of built-in methods that you can use on sets.
Method Description
intersection_update() Removes the items in this set that are not present
in other, specified set(s)
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update() Update the set with the union of this set and
others
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Dictionaries
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
Dictionary
Example
Create and print a dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
print(thisdict)
Dictionary Items
Dictionary items are ordered, changeable, and does not allow duplicates.
Dictionary items are presented in key:value pairs, and can be referred to by using
the key name.
Example
Print the "brand" value of the dictionary:
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thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
print(thisdict["brand"])
Ordered or Unordered?
As of Python version 3.7, dictionaries are ordered. In Python 3.6 and earlier,
dictionaries are unordered.
When we say that dictionaries are ordered, it means that the items have a defined
order, and that order will not change.
Unordered means that the items does not have a defined order, you cannot refer to
an item by using an index.
Changeable
Dictionaries are changeable, meaning that we can change, add or remove items
after the dictionary has been created.
Dictionary Length
To determine how many items a dictionary has, use the len() function:
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Example
Print the number of items in the dictionary:
print(len(thisdict))
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"electric": False,
"year": 1964,
"colors": ["red", "white", "blue"]
}
type()
From Python's perspective, dictionaries are defined as objects with the data type
'dict':
<class 'dict'>
Example
Print the data type of a dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
print(type(thisdict))
Accessing Items
You can access the items of a dictionary by referring to its key name, inside square
brackets:
Example
Get the value of the "model" key:
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thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = thisdict["model"]
There is also a method called get() that will give you the same result:
Example
Get the value of the "model" key:
x = [Link]("model")
Get Keys
The keys() method will return a list of all the keys in the dictionary.
Example
Get a list of the keys:
x = [Link]()
The list of the keys is a view of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to
the dictionary will be reflected in the keys list.
Example
Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the keys list gets updated as
well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}x = [Link]()
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car["color"] = "white"
print(x) #after the change
Get Values
The values() method will return a list of all the values in the dictionary.
Example
Get a list of the values:
x = [Link]()
The list of the values is a view of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to
the dictionary will be reflected in the values list.
Example
Make a change in the original dictionary, and see that the values list gets updated
as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = [Link]()
print(x) #before the change
car["year"] = 2020
print(x) #after the change
Example
Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the values list gets updated
as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
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x = [Link]()
print(x) #before the change
car["color"] = "red"
print(x) #after the change
Get Items
The items() method will return each item in a dictionary, as tuples in a list.
Example
Get a list of the key:value pairs
x = [Link]()
The returned list is a view of the items of the dictionary, meaning that any changes
done to the dictionary will be reflected in the items list.
Example
Make a change in the original dictionary, and see that the items list gets updated as
well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = [Link]()
print(x) #before the change
car["year"] = 2020
print(x) #after the change
Example
Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the items list gets updated
as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
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"year": 1964
}
x = [Link]()
print(x) #before the change
car["color"] = "red"
print(x) #after the change
Change Values
You can change the value of a specific item by referring to its key name:
Example
Change the "year" to 2018:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict["year"] = 2018
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Update Dictionary
The update() method will update the dictionary with the items from the given
argument.
The argument must be a dictionary, or an iterable object with key:value pairs.
Example
Update the "year" of the car by using the update() method:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
[Link]({"year": 2020})
Adding Items
Adding an item to the dictionary is done by using a new index key and assigning a
value to it:
Example
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict["color"] = "red"
print(thisdict)
Update Dictionary
The update() method will update the dictionary with the items from a given
argument. If the item does not exist, the item will be added.
The argument must be a dictionary, or an iterable object with key:value pairs.
Example
Add a color item to the dictionary by using the update() method:
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thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
[Link]({"color": "red"})
Removing Items
There are several methods to remove items from a dictionary:
Example
The pop() method removes the item with the specified key name:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
[Link]("model")
print(thisdict)
Example
The popitem() method removes the last inserted item (in versions before 3.7, a
random item is removed instead):
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
[Link]()
print(thisdict)
Example
The del keyword removes the item with the specified key name:
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thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
del thisdict["model"]
print(thisdict)
Example
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
del thisdict
print(thisdict) #this will cause an error because "thisdict" no longer exists.
Example
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
[Link]()
print(thisdict)
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Example
Print all key names in the dictionary, one by one:
for x in thisdict:
print(x)
Example
Print all values in the dictionary, one by one:
for x in thisdict:
print(thisdict[x])
Example
You can also use the values() method to return values of a dictionary:
for x in [Link]():
print(x)
Example
You can use the keys() method to return the keys of a dictionary:
for x in [Link]():
print(x)
Example
Loop through both keys and values, by using the items() method:
for x, y in [Link]():
print(x, y)
Copy a Dictionary
You cannot copy a dictionary simply by typing dict2 = dict1, because: dict2 will
only be a reference to dict1, and changes made in dict1 will automatically also be
made in dict2.
There are ways to make a copy, one way is to use the built-in Dictionary
method copy().
Example
Make a copy of a dictionary with the copy() method:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
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"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
mydict = [Link]()
print(mydict)
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
mydict = dict(thisdict)
print(mydict)
Nested Dictionaries
A dictionary can contain dictionaries, this is called nested dictionaries.
Example
Create a dictionary that contain three dictionaries:
myfamily = {
"child1" : {
"name" : "Emil",
"year" : 2004
},
"child2" : {
"name" : "Tobias",
"year" : 2007
},
"child3" : {
"name" : "Linus",
"year" : 2011
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}
}
Or, if you want to add three dictionaries into a new dictionary:
Example
Create three dictionaries, then create one dictionary that will contain the other three
dictionaries:
child1 = {
"name" : "Emil",
"year" : 2004
}
child2 = {
"name" : "Tobias",
"year" : 2007
}
child3 = {
"name" : "Linus",
"year" : 2011
}
myfamily = {
"child1" : child1,
"child2" : child2,
"child3" : child3
}
Dictionary Methods
Python has a set of built-in methods that you can use on dictionaries.
Method Description
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items() Returns a list containing a tuple for each key value pair
setdefault() Returns the value of the specified key. If the key does not exist:
insert the key, with the specified value
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Functions
A function is a block of code which only runs when it is called.
You can pass data, known as parameters, into a function.
A function can return data as a result.
Creating a Function
def my_function():
print("Hello from a function")
Calling a Function
def my_function():
print("Hello from a function")
my_function()
Arguments
Example
def my_function(fname):
print(fname + " Refsnes")
my_function("Emil")
my_function("Tobias")
my_function("Linus")
Arguments are often shortened to args in Python documentations.
Parameters or Arguments?
The terms parameter and argument can be used for the same thing: information
that are passed into a function.
From a function's perspective:
A parameter is the variable listed inside the parentheses in the function definition.
An argument is the value that is sent to the function when it is called.
Number of Arguments
By default, a function must be called with the correct number of arguments.
Meaning that if your function expects 2 arguments, you have to call the function
with 2 arguments, not more, and not less.
Example
This function expects 2 arguments, and gets 2 arguments:
If you try to call the function with 1 or 3 arguments, you will get an error:
Example
This function expects 2 arguments, but gets only 1:
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If you do not know how many arguments that will be passed into your function,
add a * before the parameter name in the function definition.
This way the function will receive a tuple of arguments, and can access the items
accordingly:
Example
If the number of arguments is unknown, add a * before the parameter name:
def my_function(*kids):
print("The youngest child is " + kids[2])
Keyword Arguments
You can also send arguments with the key = value syntax.
This way the order of the arguments does not matter.
Example
def my_function(child3, child2, child1):
print("The youngest child is " + child3)
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If you do not know how many keyword arguments that will be passed into your
function, add two asterisk: ** before the parameter name in the function definition.
This way the function will receive a dictionary of arguments, and can access the
items accordingly:
Example
If the number of keyword arguments is unknown, add a double ** before the
parameter name:
def my_function(**kid):
print("His last name is " + kid["lname"])
my_function("Sweden")
my_function("India")
my_function()
my_function("Brazil")
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def my_function(food):
for x in food:
print(x)
Return Values
def my_function(x):
return 5 * x
print(my_function(3))
print(my_function(5))
print(my_function(9))
function definitions cannot be empty, but if you for some reason have
a function definition with no content, put in the pass statement to avoid getting an
error.
Example
def myfunction():
pass
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Recursion
Python also accepts function recursion, which means a defined function can call
itself.
Recursion is a common mathematical and programming concept. It means that a
function calls itself. This has the benefit of meaning that you can loop through data
to reach a result.
The developer should be very careful with recursion as it can be quite easy to slip
into writing a function which never terminates, or one that uses excess amounts of
memory or processor power. However, when written correctly recursion can be a
very efficient and mathematically-elegant approach to programming.
In this example, tri_recursion() is a function that we have defined to call itself
("recurse"). We use the k variable as the data, which decrements (-1) every time we
recurse. The recursion ends when the condition is not greater than 0 (i.e. when it is
0).
To a new developer it can take some time to work out how exactly this works, best
way to find out is by testing and modifying it.
Example
Recursion Example
def tri_recursion(k):
if(k > 0):
result = k + tri_recursion(k - 1)
print(result)
else:
result = 0
return result
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Lambda
Syntax
x = lambda a : a + 10
print(x(5))
x = lambda a, b : a * b
print(x(5, 6))
Example
Summarize argument a, b, and c and return the result:
x = lambda a, b, c : a + b + c
print(x(5, 6, 2))
def myfunc(n):
return lambda a : a * n
Use that function definition to make a function that always doubles the number you
send in:
Example
def myfunc(n):
return lambda a : a * n
mydoubler = myfunc(2)
print(mydoubler(11))
Or, use the same function definition to make a function that always triples the
number you send in:
Example
def myfunc(n):
return lambda a : a * n
mytripler = myfunc(3)
print(mytripler(11))
Or, use the same function definition to make both functions, in the same program:
Example
def myfunc(n):
return lambda a : a * n
mydoubler = myfunc(2)
mytripler = myfunc(3)
print(mydoubler(11))
print(mytripler(11))
Use lambda functions when an anonymous function is required for a short period
of time.
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Arrays
Note: Python does not have built-in support for Arrays, but Python Lists can be
used instead.
Arrays
Note: This page shows you how to use LISTS as ARRAYS, however, to work
with arrays in Python you will have to import a library, like the NumPy library.
Arrays are used to store multiple values in one single variable:
Example
Create an array containing car names:
What is an Array?
An array is a special variable, which can hold more than one value at a time.
If you have a list of items (a list of car names, for example), storing the cars in
single variables could look like this:
car1 = "Ford"
car2 = "Volvo"
car3 = "BMW"
However, what if you want to loop through the cars and find a specific one? And
what if you had not 3 cars, but 300?
The solution is an array!
An array can hold many values under a single name, and you can access the values
by referring to an index number.
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Example
Modify the value of the first array item:
cars[0] = "Toyota"
x = len(cars)
Note: The length of an array is always one more than the highest array index.
You can also use the remove() method to remove an element from the array.
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Example
Delete the element that has the value "Volvo":
[Link]("Volvo")
Note: The list's remove() method only removes the first occurrence of the specified
value.
Array Methods
Python has a set of built-in methods that you can use on lists/arrays.
Method Description
extend() Add the elements of a list (or any iterable), to the end of the current
list
index() Returns the index of the first element with the specified value
Note: Python does not have built-in support for Arrays, but Python Lists can be
used instead.
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Classes/Objects
Create a Class
To create a class, use the keyword class:
Example
Create a class named MyClass, with a property named x:
class MyClass:
x=5
Create Object
Now we can use the class named MyClass to create objects:
Example
Create an object named p1, and print the value of x:
p1 = MyClass()
print(p1.x)
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Create a class named Person, use the __init__() function to assign values for name
and age:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
[Link] = name
[Link] = age
p1 = Person("John", 36)
print([Link])
print([Link])
Note: The __init__() function is called automatically every time the class is being
used to create a new object.
Object Methods
Objects can also contain methods. Methods in objects are functions that belong to
the object.
Let us create a method in the Person class:
Example
Insert a function that prints a greeting, and execute it on the p1 object:
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
[Link] = name
[Link] = age
def myfunc(self):
print("Hello my name is " + [Link])
p1 = Person("John", 36)
[Link]()
Note: The self parameter is a reference to the current instance of the class, and is
used to access variables that belong to the class.
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class Person:
def __init__(mysillyobject, name, age):
[Link] = name
[Link] = age
def myfunc(abc):
print("Hello my name is " + [Link])
p1 = Person("John", 36)
[Link]()
Delete Objects
You can delete objects by using the del keyword:
Example
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del p1
class Person:
pass
Inheritance
Inheritance allows us to define a class that inherits all the methods and properties
from another class.
Parent class is the class being inherited from, also called base class.
Child class is the class that inherits from another class, also called derived class.
Create a class named Person, with firstname and lastname properties, and
a printname method:
class Person:
def __init__(self, fname, lname):
[Link] = fname
[Link] = lname
def printname(self):
print([Link], [Link])
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#Use the Person class to create an object, and then execute the printname method:
x = Person("John", "Doe")
[Link]()
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class Student(Person):
def __init__(self, fname, lname):
#add properties etc.
When you add the __init__() function, the child class will no longer inherit the
parent's __init__() function.
Note: The child's __init__() function overrides the inheritance of the
parent's __init__() function.
To keep the inheritance of the parent's __init__() function, add a call to the
parent's __init__() function:
Example
class Student(Person):
def __init__(self, fname, lname):
Person.__init__(self, fname, lname)
Now we have successfully added the __init__() function, and kept the inheritance
of the parent class, and we are ready to add functionality in the __init__() function.
By using the super() function, you do not have to use the name of the parent
element, it will automatically inherit the methods and properties from its parent.
Add Properties
Example
Add a property called graduationyear to the Student class:
class Student(Person):
def __init__(self, fname, lname):
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super().__init__(fname, lname)
[Link] = 2019
In the example below, the year 2019 should be a variable, and passed into
the Student class when creating student objects. To do so, add another parameter in
the __init__() function:
Example
Add a year parameter, and pass the correct year when creating objects:
class Student(Person):
def __init__(self, fname, lname, year):
super().__init__(fname, lname)
[Link] = year
Add Methods
Example
Add a method called welcome to the Student class:
class Student(Person):
def __init__(self, fname, lname, year):
super().__init__(fname, lname)
[Link] = year
def welcome(self):
print("Welcome", [Link], [Link], "to the class of",
[Link])
If you add a method in the child class with the same name as a function in the
parent class, the inheritance of the parent method will be overridden.
Iterators
An iterator is an object that contains a countable number of values.
An iterator is an object that can be iterated upon, meaning that you can traverse
through all the values.
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Iterator vs Iterable
Lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets are all iterable objects. They are
iterable containers which you can get an iterator from.
All these objects have a iter() method which is used to get an iterator:
Example
Return an iterator from a tuple, and print each value:
mytuple = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")
myit = iter(mytuple)
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
print(next(myit))
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for x in mytuple:
print(x)
Example
Iterate the characters of a string:
mystr = "banana"
for x in mystr:
print(x)
The for loop actually creates an iterator object and executes the next() method for
each loop.
Create an Iterator
To create an object/class as an iterator you have to implement the
methods __iter__() and __next__() to your object.
As you have learned in the Python Classes/Objects chapter, all classes have a
function called __init__(), which allows you to do some initializing when the
object is being created.
The __iter__() method acts similar, you can do operations (initializing etc.), but
must always return the iterator object itself.
The __next__() method also allows you to do operations, and must return the next
item in the sequence.
Example
Create an iterator that returns numbers, starting with 1, and each sequence will
increase by one (returning 1,2,3,4,5 etc.):
class MyNumbers:
def __iter__(self):
self.a = 1
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return self
def __next__(self):
x = self.a
self.a += 1
return x
myclass = MyNumbers()
myiter = iter(myclass)
print(next(myiter))
print(next(myiter))
print(next(myiter))
print(next(myiter))
print(next(myiter))
StopIteration
The example above would continue forever if you had enough next() statements, or
if it was used in a for loop.
To prevent the iteration to go on forever, we can use the StopIteration statement.
In the __next__() method, we can add a terminating condition to raise an error if
the iteration is done a specified number of times:
Example
Stop after 20 iterations:
class MyNumbers:
def __iter__(self):
self.a = 1
return self
def __next__(self):
if self.a <= 20:
x = self.a
self.a += 1
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return x
else:
raise StopIteration
myclass = MyNumbers()
myiter = iter(myclass)
for x in myiter:
print(x)
Python Scope
A variable is only available from inside the region it is created. This is
called scope.
Local Scope
A variable created inside a function belongs to the local scope of that function, and
can only be used inside that function.
Example
A variable created inside a function is available inside that function:
def myfunc():
x = 300
print(x)
myfunc()
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myinnerfunc()
myfunc()
Global Scope
A variable created in the main body of the Python code is a global variable and
belongs to the global scope.
Global variables are available from within any scope, global and local.
Example
A variable created outside of a function is global and can be used by anyone:
x = 300
def myfunc():
print(x)
myfunc()
print(x)
Naming Variables
If you operate with the same variable name inside and outside of a function,
Python will treat them as two separate variables, one available in the global scope
(outside the function) and one available in the local scope (inside the function):
Example
The function will print the local x, and then the code will print the global x:
x = 300
def myfunc():
x = 200
print(x)
myfunc()
print(x)
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Global Keyword
If you need to create a global variable, but are stuck in the local scope, you can use
the global keyword.
The global keyword makes the variable global.
Example
If you use the global keyword, the variable belongs to the global scope:
def myfunc():
global x
x = 300
myfunc()
print(x)
Also, use the global keyword if you want to make a change to a global variable
inside a function.
Example
To change the value of a global variable inside a function, refer to the variable by
using the global keyword:
x = 300
def myfunc():
global x
x = 200
myfunc()
print(x)
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Modules
What is a Module?
Consider a module to be the same as a code library.
A file containing a set of functions you want to include in your application.
Create a Module
To create a module just save the code you want in a file with the file extension .py:
Example
Save this code in a file named [Link]
def greeting(name):
print("Hello, " + name)
Use a Module
Now we can use the module we just created, by using the import statement:
Example
Import the module named mymodule, and call the greeting function:
import mymodule
[Link]("Jonathan")
Variables in Module
The module can contain functions, as already described, but also variables of all
types (arrays, dictionaries, objects etc):
Example
Save this code in the file [Link]
person1 = {
"name": "John",
"age": 36,
"country": "Norway"
}
Example
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Import the module named mymodule, and access the person1 dictionary:
import mymodule
a = mymodule.person1["age"]
print(a)
Naming a Module
You can name the module file whatever you like, but it must have the file
extension .py
Re-naming a Module
You can create an alias when you import a module, by using the as keyword:
Example
Create an alias for mymodule called mx:
import mymodule as mx
a = mx.person1["age"]
print(a)
Built-in Modules
There are several built-in modules in Python, which you can import whenever you
like.
Example
Import and use the platform module:
import platform
x = [Link]()
print(x)
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import platform
x = dir(platform)
print(x)
Note: The dir() function can be used on all modules, also the ones you create
yourself.
person1 = {
"name": "John",
"age": 36,
"country": "Norway"
}
Example
Import only the person1 dictionary from the module:
from mymodule import person1
print (person1["age"])
Note: When importing using the from keyword, do not use the module name when
referring to elements in the module.
Example: person1["age"], not mymodule.person1["age"]
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File Handling
File Open
File handling is an important part of any web application.
Python has several functions for creating, reading, updating, and deleting files.
File Handling
The key function for working with files in Python is the open() function.
The open() function takes two parameters; filename, and mode.
There are four different methods (modes) for opening a file:
"r" - Read - Default value. Opens a file for reading, error if the file does not exist
"a" - Append - Opens a file for appending, creates the file if it does not exist
"w" - Write - Opens a file for writing, creates the file if it does not exist
"x" - Create - Creates the specified file, returns an error if the file exists
In addition you can specify if the file should be handled as binary or text mode
"t" - Text - Default value. Text mode
"b" - Binary - Binary mode (e.g. images)
Syntax
To open a file for reading it is enough to specify the name of the file:
f = open("[Link]")
The code above is the same as:
f = open("[Link]", "rt")
Because "r" for read, and "t" for text are the default values, you do not need to
specify them.
Note: Make sure the file exists, or else you will get an error.
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f = open("[Link]", "r")
print([Link]())
If the file is located in a different location, you will have to specify the file path,
like this:
Example
f = open("D:\\myfiles\[Link]", "r")
print([Link]())
f = open("[Link]", "r")
print([Link](5))
Read Lines
You can return one line by using the readline() method:
Example
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f = open("[Link]", "r")
print([Link]())
By calling readline() two times, you can read the two first lines:
Example
Read two lines of the file:
f = open("[Link]", "r")
print([Link]())
print([Link]())
By looping through the lines of the file, you can read the whole file, line by line:
Example
Loop through the file line by line:
f = open("[Link]", "r")
for x in f:
print(x)
Close Files
It is a good practice to always close the file when you are done with it.
Example
Close the file when you are finish with it:
f = open("[Link]", "r")
print([Link]())
[Link]()
Note: You should always close your files, in some cases, due to buffering, changes
made to a file may not show until you close the file.
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File Write
Example
Open the file "[Link]" and overwrite the content:
f = open("[Link]", "w")
[Link]("Woops! I have deleted the content!")
[Link]()
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Example
Create a file called "[Link]":
f = open("[Link]", "x")
Result: a new empty file is created!
Example
Create a new file if it does not exist:
f = open("[Link]", "w")
Delete a File
To delete a file, you must import the OS module, and run its [Link]() function:
Example
Remove the file "[Link]":
import os
[Link]("[Link]")
Delete Folder
To delete an entire folder, use the [Link]() method:
Example
Remove the folder "myfolder":
import os
[Link]("myfolder")
Note: You can only remove empty folders.
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