Python 3.
0 was released on 3 December 2008, and was a major revision and not completely
backward-compatible with earlier versions, with some new semantics and changed syntax.
Python 2.7.18, released in 2020, was the last release of Python 2.[56] Several releases in the
Python 3.x series have added new syntax to the language, and made a few (considered very
minor) backward-incompatible changes.
As of January 2026, Python 3.14.2 is the latest stable release. All older 3.x versions had a
security update down to Python 3.9.24 then again with 3.9.25, the final version in 3.9 series.
Python 3.10 is, since November 2025, the oldest supported branch.[57] Python 3.15 has an
alpha released, and Android has an official downloadable executable available for Python
3.14. Releases receive two years of full support followed by three years of security support.
Design philosophy and features
Python is a multi-paradigm programming language. Object-oriented programming and
structured programming are fully supported, and many of their features support functional
programming and aspect-oriented programming – including metaprogramming[58] and
metaobjects.[59] Many other paradigms are supported via extensions, including design by
contract[60][61] and logic programming.[62] Python is often referred to as a 'glue language'[63]
because it is purposely designed to be able to integrate components written in other
languages.
Python uses dynamic typing and a combination of reference counting and a cycle-detecting
garbage collector for memory management.[64] It uses dynamic name resolution (late binding),
which binds method and variable names during program execution.
Python's design offers some support for functional programming in the "Lisp tradition". It has
filter, map, and reduce functions; list comprehensions, dictionaries, sets, and generator
expressions.[65] The standard library has two modules (itertools and functools) that
implement functional tools borrowed from Haskell and Standard ML.[66]
Python's core philosophy is summarized in the Zen of Python (PEP 20) written by Tim Peters,
which includes aphorisms such as these:[67]
Explicit is better than implicit.
Simple is better than complex.
Readability counts.
Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
Although practicality beats purity, errors should never pass silently, unless explicitly
silenced.
There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it.
However, Python has received criticism for violating these principles and adding unnecessary
language bloat.[68] Responses to these criticisms note that the Zen of Python is a guideline
rather than a rule.[69] The addition of some new features had been controversial: Guido van
Rossum resigned as Benevolent Dictator for Life after conflict about adding the assignment
expression operator in Python 3.8.[70][71]
Nevertheless, rather than building all functionality into its core, Python was designed to be
highly extensible via modules. This compact modularity has made it particularly popular as a
means of adding programmable interfaces to existing applications. Van Rossum's vision of a
small core language with a large standard library and easily extensible interpreter stemmed
from his frustrations with ABC, which represented the opposite approach.[43]
Python claims to strive for a simpler, less-cluttered syntax and grammar, while giving
developers a choice in their coding methodology. Python lacks do while loops, which Rossum
considered harmful.[72] In contrast to Perl's motto "there is more than one way to do it",
Python advocates an approach where "there should be one – and preferably only one –
obvious way to do it".[67] In practice, however, Python provides many ways to achieve a given
goal. There are at least three ways to format a string literal, with no certainty as to which one
a programmer should use.[73] Alex Martelli is a Fellow at the Python Software Foundation and
Python book author; he wrote that "To describe something as 'clever' is not considered a
compliment in the Python culture."[74]
Python's developers typically prioritise readability over performance. For example, they
reject patches to non-critical parts of the CPython reference implementation that would
offer increases in speed that do not justify the cost of clarity and readability.[75][failed verification]
Execution speed can be improved by moving speed-critical functions to extension modules
written in languages such as C, or by using a just-in-time compiler like PyPy. Also, it is possible
to transpile to other languages. However, this approach either fails to achieve the expected
speed-up, since Python is a very dynamic language, or only a restricted subset of Python is
compiled (with potential minor semantic changes).[76]
Python is meant to be a fun language to use. This goal is reflected in the name – a tribute to
the British comedy group Monty Python[77] – and in playful approaches to some tutorials and
reference materials. For instance, some code examples use the terms "spam" and "eggs" (in
reference to a Monty Python sketch), rather than the typical terms "foo" and "bar".[78][79]
A common neologism in the Python community is pythonic, which has a broad range of
meanings related to program style: Pythonic code may use Python idioms well; be natural or
show fluency in the language; or conform with Python's minimalist philosophy and emphasis
on readability.[80]