REPL

REPL stands for Read-Eval-Print Loop. It’s an interactive programming environment that allows you to write and execute code in a step-by-step manner and get immediate feedback on how the code works. To access the Python REPL, run the python or python3 command in your terminal or command prompt.

When you type code into the Python REPL and press Enter, it reads your input, evaluates it, prints the result to the screen, and then loops back to prompt you for more input. This cycle makes the Python REPL incredibly useful for testing code snippets, debugging, and learning new programming concepts interactively.

Using a REPL is a great way to experiment with Python code and see immediate results. As you type in code, the REPL provides instant feedback, which can help you understand how Python works, test functions, or explore new libraries and syntax.

Example

Here’s how a session in a Python REPL works:

Python 
>>> x = 5
>>> y = 10
>>> x + y
15

>>> print("Hello, REPL!")
Hello, REPL!

In this example, you can see how the REPL reads your input, evaluates it to perform computations or execute commands, and then prints the output directly.

The Python Standard REPL: Try Out Code and Ideas Quickly

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 Leodanis Pozo Ramos • Updated Dec. 19, 2024 • Reviewed by Dan Bader
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