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.

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

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Python Basics Book

19 Resources ⋅ Skills: Python 3 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.

Top Python Game Engines

Top Python Game Engines

May 04, 2022 basics gamedev

Python's min() and max(): Find Smallest and Largest Values

Python's min() and max(): Find Smallest and Largest Values

May 02, 2022 basics python

Python Keywords: An Introduction

Exploring Keywords in Python

Apr 12, 2022 basics python

Use FastAPI to Build Web APIs

Python REST APIs With FastAPI

Apr 05, 2022 api basics web-dev

Python GUI Programming With Tkinter

Python GUI Programming With Tkinter

Mar 30, 2022 basics gui python

Python Basics: Code Your First Python Program

Python Basics: Code Your First Python Program

Mar 22, 2022 basics python

Python's Counter: The Pythonic Way to Count Objects

Counting With Python's Counter

Mar 08, 2022 basics python

Manage Your To-Do Lists Using Python and Django

Manage Your To-Do Lists Using Python and Django

Mar 02, 2022 basics django projects web-dev

Python any(): Powered Up Boolean Function

Python any(): Powered Up Boolean Function

Feb 15, 2022 basics python

Python's all(): Check Your Iterables for Truthiness

Python's all(): Check Your Iterables for Truthiness

Feb 09, 2022 basics best-practices python

Using Python Optional Arguments When Defining Functions

Defining Python Functions With Optional Arguments

Feb 08, 2022 basics python

Using Python's pip to Manage Your Projects' Dependencies

Using Python's pip to Manage Your Projects' Dependencies

Feb 02, 2022 basics tools

Using the len() Function in Python

Python's len() Function

Feb 01, 2022 basics python

Raining Outside? Build a Weather CLI App With Python

Raining Outside? Build a Weather CLI App With Python

Jan 26, 2022 api basics

Python enumerate(): Simplify Looping With Counters

Looping With Python enumerate()

Jan 25, 2022 basics best-practices

Build a Dice-Rolling Application With Python

Build a Dice-Rolling Application With Python

Jan 19, 2022 basics projects python

Getting Started With Python IDLE

Starting With Python IDLE

Jan 18, 2022 basics python

An Introduction to Python Exceptions

Raising and Handling Python Exceptions

Dec 21, 2021 basics python

Advent of Code

Advent of Code: Solving Your Puzzles With Python

Dec 01, 2021 basics testing

Python's .append(): Add Items to Your Lists in Place

Building Lists With Python's .append()

Nov 16, 2021 basics python

Basic Input, Output, and String Formatting in Python

Reading Input and Writing Output in Python

Nov 02, 2021 basics python

Python Best Practices Artwork

Writing Idiomatic Python

Oct 26, 2021 basics best-practices python

Using the "not" Boolean Operator in Python

Using the "not" Boolean Operator in Python

Oct 25, 2021 basics python

Using the len() Function in Python

Using the len() Function in Python

Oct 20, 2021 basics python

Representing Rational Numbers With Python Fractions

Representing Rational Numbers With Python Fractions

Oct 11, 2021 basics python

Python's sum(): The Pythonic Way to Sum Values

Python's sum(): The Pythonic Way to Sum Values

Oct 06, 2021 basics python

Make Your First Python Game: Rock, Paper, Scissors!

Rock, Paper, Scissors With Python: A Command Line Game

Sep 28, 2021 basics gamedev python

Reverse Strings in Python: reversed(), Slicing, and More

Reverse Strings in Python: reversed(), Slicing, and More

Sep 27, 2021 basics best-practices python

Using the "and" Boolean Operator in Python

Using the "and" Boolean Operator in Python

Sep 20, 2021 basics best-practices python

Build a Personal Diary With Django and Python

Build a Personal Diary With Django and Python

Sep 15, 2021 basics django front-end projects web-dev

How Long Does It Take to Learn Python

How Long Does It Take to Learn Python?

Sep 06, 2021 basics community python

Using Python Optional Arguments When Defining Functions

Using Python Optional Arguments When Defining Functions

Aug 30, 2021 basics python

The Python return Statement: Usage and Best Practices

Using the Python return Statement Effectively

Aug 10, 2021 basics best-practices python

Django Setup Guide

Your First Steps With Django: Set Up a Django Project

Jul 21, 2021 basics best-practices django web-dev

Use FastAPI to Build Web APIs

Using FastAPI to Build Python Web APIs

Jul 14, 2021 api basics web-dev

Introduction to Python 3

The Square Root Function in Python

Jul 13, 2021 basics

What Can I Build With Python?

What Can I Do With Python?

Jul 07, 2021 basics python

Defining Your Own Python Function

Defining and Calling Python Functions

Jul 06, 2021 basics python

Python's Counter: The Pythonic Way to Count Objects

Python's Counter: The Pythonic Way to Count Objects

Jul 05, 2021 basics python

Reverse Python Lists: Beyond .reverse() and reversed()

Reverse Python Lists: Beyond .reverse() and reversed()

Jun 28, 2021 basics python

Python Basics Video Course Setup Artwork

Python Basics: Setting Up Python

Jun 08, 2021 basics python

Using Pandas and Python to Explore Your Dataset

Explore Your Dataset With Pandas

Jun 01, 2021 basics data-science

Django Setup Guide

How to Set Up a Django Project

May 25, 2021 basics best-practices django web-dev

How to Use the Python or Operator

Using the Python or Operator

Common Python Data Structures (Guide)

Stacks and Queues: Selecting the Ideal Data Structure

Natural Language Processing With Python's NLTK Package

Natural Language Processing With Python's NLTK Package

basics data-science

Python's map(): Processing Iterables Without a Loop

Python's map() Function: Transforming Iterables

basics best-practices python

Python Basics: Paperback Now Available!

Python Basics: Paperback Now Available!

basics community