Python Basics

Get a jump-start on your Python career with our tutorials designed for beginners.

On this page you’ll find fundamental concepts for Python beginners that will help you get started on your journey to learn Python. These tutorials focus on the absolutely essential things you need to know about Python.

We’re super passionate about teaching with articles and tutorials here on realpython.com—and we’d love to help you, too! Once you’re ready to move on to the next stage, check out our intermediate Python tutorials.

Free Bonus: Python Cheat Sheet

Get a Python Cheat Sheet (PDF) and learn the basics of Python 3, like working with data types, dictionaries, lists, and Python functions:

The Best Way to Get Started

The best way to get started is with our Python Basics Book:

Python Basics Book

Learning Path

Python Basics Book

18 Resources ⋅ Skills: Python 3.7 Fundamentals, Real-World Projects

Python Basics is for people who want to learn Python programming—whether you are a complete beginner to programming, or a developer with experience in another language.

Python Histogram Plots

Python Histogram Plotting: NumPy, Matplotlib, Pandas & Seaborn

Aug 20, 2019 basics data-science

An Effective Python Environment: Making Yourself at Home

An Effective Python Environment: Making Yourself at Home

Aug 14, 2019 basics tools

The Ultimate Guide to Python Print

Your Guide to the Python Print Function

Aug 12, 2019 basics python

Beginner Tips for Learning Python

11 Beginner Tips for Learning Python

Aug 06, 2019 basics python

How to Iterate Through a Dictionary in Python

Dictionaries in Python

Jul 30, 2019 basics python

Understanding the Python Traceback

Understanding the Python Traceback

Jul 29, 2019 basics python

Python Best Practices Artwork

How to Write Pythonic Loops

Jul 16, 2019 basics best-practices python

Python Pit Stop

The Python Square Root Function

Jul 08, 2019 basics

How to Use the Python or Operator

How to Use the Python or Operator

Jul 03, 2019 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Basic Input, Output, and String Formatting in Python

Jun 24, 2019 basics python

How to Implement a Python Stack

How to Implement a Python Stack

Jun 05, 2019 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Installing Python on Windows, macOS, and Linux

May 16, 2019 basics python

Playing and Recording Sound in Python

Playing and Recording Sound in Python

May 13, 2019 basics python

How to Use sorted() and sort() in Python

How to Use sorted() and sort() in Python

May 06, 2019 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Conditional Statements in Python (if/elif/else)

Apr 25, 2019 basics python

Python KeyError Exceptions and How to Handle Them

Python KeyError Exceptions and How to Handle Them

Apr 24, 2019 basics python

Python String Formatting

Python String Formatting Tips & Best Practices

Apr 11, 2019 basics best-practices python

How to Run Your Python Scripts

Running Python Scripts

Apr 09, 2019 basics python

What Is pip? A Guide for New Pythonistas

What Is Pip? A Guide for New Pythonistas

Apr 03, 2019 basics tools

Writing Comments in Python (Guide)

Writing Comments in Python

Mar 08, 2019 basics best-practices python

An Introduction to Python Exceptions

Introduction to Python Exceptions

Mar 05, 2019 basics python

F-Strings in Python 3.6

Python 3's f-Strings: An Improved String Formatting Syntax

Mar 05, 2019 basics python

Python Best Practices Artwork

Idiomatic Python 101

Mar 04, 2019 basics best-practices python

Python Data Science Artwork

Introduction to Pandas and Vincent

Mar 02, 2019 basics data-science

An Introduction to Python Exceptions

Python Exceptions 101

Mar 02, 2019 basics python

Python Data Science Artwork

Pandas DataFrames 101

Mar 02, 2019 basics data-science

Splitting, Concatenating, and Joining Strings in Python

Splitting, Concatenating, and Joining Strings in Python

Mar 01, 2019 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Mastering While Loops

Mar 01, 2019 basics python

Absolute vs Relative Imports in Python

Python Imports 101

Mar 01, 2019 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

For Loops in Python (Definite Iteration)

Mar 01, 2019 basics python

Python Virtual Environments (venv)

Working With Python Virtual Environments

Feb 27, 2019 basics tools

How to Run Your Python Scripts

How to Run Your Python Scripts

Feb 18, 2019 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Python "for" Loops (Definite Iteration)

Jan 30, 2019 basics python

Working With Files in Python

Working With Files in Python

Jan 21, 2019 basics python

Django Migrations: A Primer

Django Migrations: A Primer

Jan 09, 2019 basics databases django web-dev

Thonny: The Beginner-Friendly Python Editor

Thonny: The Beginner-Friendly Python Editor

Dec 12, 2018 basics tools

Introduction to Python 3

Python "while" Loops (Indefinite Iteration)

Nov 07, 2018 basics python

Writing Comments in Python (Guide)

Writing Comments in Python (Guide)

Nov 05, 2018 basics best-practices python

A Basic Python Setup for Machine Learning on Windows

Setting Up Python for Machine Learning on Windows

Oct 31, 2018 basics data-science machine-learning

Python's range() Function

The Python range() Function (Guide)

Oct 15, 2018 basics python

Splitting, Concatenating, and Joining Strings in Python

Splitting, Concatenating, and Joining Strings in Python

Oct 01, 2018 basics python

The Best Python Books

The Best Python Books

Sep 10, 2018 basics intermediate python

Introduction to Python 3

Conditional Statements in Python

Sep 05, 2018 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Python Program Lexical Structure

Sep 03, 2018 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Sets in Python

Introduction to Python 3

Dictionaries in Python

Introduction to Python 3

Lists and Tuples in Python

Introduction to Python 3

Strings and Character Data in Python