Basics of Python

Python Roadmap for Basics

Python is a programming language that is used for many different things. You can use Python to develop web applications, mobile applications, desktop applications, test software, and even for hacking. It is a great programming language for beginners.

If you are just starting out, you may not know what to do first. Should I read a book or look for an online tutorial to learn everything I need to know? So let's discuss everything you need to do to become a Python developer.

But before we get started, let's take a look at the different uses of Python:

• People from different fields use Python to perform various tasks such as data analysis, visualization, automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning application development, etc.
• You can use Python syntax or scripts to automate many repetitive tasks such as copying required folders and files, renaming them as needed, and sending them to the server.
• It is also used by mathematicians, accountants, data analysts, network engineers, and scientists, not just software developers.

Basic Syntax

Setup the environment for Python and get started with the basics.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• W3Schools - Python
• Python Basics
• Learn X in Y Minutes / Python
• Python for Beginners - Learn Python in 1 Hour

Variables

Variables are used to store information to be referenced and manipulated in a computer program. They also provide a way of labeling data with a descriptive name, so our programs can be understood more clearly by the reader and ourselves. It is helpful to think of variables as containers that hold information. Their sole purpose is to label and store data in memory. This data can then be used throughout your program.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• Variables in Python
• W3Schools — Python Variables
• Python Data Types
• Python Variables - Python Tutorial for Beginners with Examples | Mosh

Conditionals

Conditional Statements in Python perform different actions depending on whether a specific condition evaluates to true or false. Conditional Statements are handled by IF-ELIF-ELSE statements and MATCH-CASE statements in Python.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• Python Conditional Statements: IF…Else, ELIF & Switch Case
• Conditional Statements in Python
• How to use a match statement in Python
• W3Schools - Python Conditions and If statements

Typecasting

The process of converting the value of one data type (integer, string, float, etc.) to another data type is called type conversion. Python has two types of type conversion: Implicit and Explicit.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• Type Conversion and Casting
• Python Exceptions: An Introduction
• Errors and Exceptions
• Python Try Except

Exceptions

Python exceptions are events that occur during the execution of a program and disrupt the normal flow of the program’s instructions. When an exception is raised, it indicates that an error has occurred. Python provides a way to handle these exceptions using try-except blocks, allowing developers to manage errors gracefully and ensure the program can continue or exit smoothly.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• Exceptions Documentation
• Exception Handling in Python

Functions

In programming, a function is a reusable block of code that executes a certain functionality when it is called. Functions are integral parts of every programming language because they help make your code more modular and reusable.

In Python, you define a function with the def keyword, then write the function identifier (name) followed by parentheses and a colon.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• Python Functions - W3Schools
• Built-in Functions in Python

Lists, Tuples, Sets, and Dictionaries

Lists: are just like dynamic-sized arrays, declared in other languages (vector in C++ and ArrayList in Java). Lists need not be homogeneous always which makes it the most powerful tool in Python.

Tuple: A Tuple is a collection of Python objects separated by commas. In some ways, a tuple is similar to a list in terms of indexing, nested objects, and repetition but a tuple is immutable, unlike lists that are mutable.

Set: A Set is an unordered collection data type that is iterable, mutable, and has no duplicate elements. Python’s set class represents the mathematical notion of a set.

Dictionary: In Python, a Dictionary is an ordered (since Python 3.7) [unordered (Python 3.6 & prior)] collection of data values, used to store data values like a map, which, unlike other Data Types that hold only a single value as an element, Dictionary holds key:value pair. Key-value is provided in the dictionary to make it more optimized.

Visit the following resources to learn more:

• Tuples vs. Lists vs. Sets in Python
• Python for Beginners: Lists
• When and How to Use Tuples
• Difference Between List, Tuple, Set, and Dictionary in Python

These are the basics of Python. Once you clear these concepts, you'll be able to understand how to code and will be ready to learn the next steps that will help you master Python programming.

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