console

The console is the text-based interface used for interacting with your computer’s operating system and running Python programs. In Python programming, it serves two main purposes:

  1. Command Line Interface (CLI): Where you execute Python scripts, manage packages with pip, and interact with the Python interpreter via the REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop).
  2. Output Display: Where your program’s text output appears, including print statements, error messages, and interactive input/output operations.

The console is also referred to as the “terminal”, “command prompt” (on Windows), or “shell”. The Python interactive shell (REPL) is a special type of console that lets you write and test Python code line by line.

Tutorial

The Python Standard REPL: Try Out Code and Ideas Quickly

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use the Python standard REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) to run your code interactively. This tool will allow you to test new ideas, explore and experiment with new tools and libraries, refactor and debug your code, try out examples, and more.

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For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:


By Dan Bader • Updated Jan. 21, 2025