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

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.

Advent of Code: Solving Puzzles With Python

Advent of Code: Solving Puzzles With Python

Nov 28, 2023 basics career testing

Python Basics: Modules and Packages

Python Basics Exercises: Modules and Packages

Nov 21, 2023 basics python

Python Basics: Modules and Packages

Python Basics: Modules and Packages

Nov 14, 2023 basics python

Python Basics: Numbers and Math

Python Basics Exercises: Numbers and Math

Nov 07, 2023 basics python

Build a Hangman Game for the Command Line in Python

Build a Hangman Game for the Command Line in Python

Nov 01, 2023 basics gamedev projects python

Boost Your Coding Productivity With Ptpython

Boost Your Coding Productivity With Ptpython

Oct 25, 2023 basics tools

Python Basics: Building Systems With Classes

Python Basics Exercises: Building Systems With Classes

Oct 24, 2023 basics python

How to Run Your Python Scripts

How to Run Your Python Scripts and Code

Oct 23, 2023 basics best-practices devops python

Python's F-String: An Improved String Interpolation and Formatting Tool

Python's F-String for String Interpolation and Formatting

Oct 18, 2023 basics python

Python Basics: Object-Oriented Programming

Python Basics Exercises: Object-Oriented Programming

Oct 17, 2023 basics python

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

Using Python's min() and max()

Oct 10, 2023 basics python

Python Basics: Conditional Logic & Control Flow

Python Basics Exercises: Conditional Logic and Control Flow

Sep 26, 2023 basics python

Operators and Expressions in Python

Operators and Expressions in Python

Sep 18, 2023 basics python

Build a Wordle Clone With Python and Rich

Create a Python Wordle Clone With Rich

Aug 29, 2023 basics projects

How to Replace a String in Python

Replacing a String in Python

Aug 22, 2023 basics best-practices

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

Reversing Strings in Python

Aug 01, 2023 basics best-practices python

How to Download Files From URLs With Python

How to Download Files From URLs With Python

Jul 31, 2023 basics

Unlock IPython's Magical Toolbox for Your Coding Journey

Unlock IPython's Magical Toolbox for Your Coding Journey

Jul 12, 2023 basics editors tools

Python Basics: Reading and Writing Files

Python Basics: Reading and Writing Files

Jun 13, 2023 basics python

What's the Zen of Python?

What's the Zen of Python?

Jun 07, 2023 basics python

Choosing the Best Coding Font for Programming

Choosing the Best Coding Font for Programming

May 29, 2023 basics editors tools

ChatGPT: Your Personal Python Coding Mentor

ChatGPT: Your Personal Python Coding Mentor

May 17, 2023 basics best-practices

The Python Standard REPL: Try Out Code and Ideas Quickly

Getting the Most Out of the Python Standard REPL

May 09, 2023 basics tools

Efficient String Concatenation in Python

Efficient String Concatenation in Python

May 03, 2023 basics best-practices python

Python Basics: Installing Packages With pip

Python Basics: Installing Packages With pip

Apr 18, 2023 basics python

How to Check if a Python String Contains a Substring

Check if a Python String Contains a Substring

Apr 04, 2023 basics best-practices

Python's del: Remove References From Scopes and Containers

Python's del: Remove References From Scopes and Containers

Apr 03, 2023 basics best-practices python

How to Read Python Input as Integers

How to Read Python Input as Integers

Mar 27, 2023 basics

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

Summing Values the Pythonic Way With sum()

Mar 21, 2023 basics python

The Terminal: First Steps and Useful Commands

The Terminal: First Steps and Useful Commands

Feb 22, 2023 basics tools

Using the Terminal on Windows

Using the Terminal on Windows

Feb 21, 2023 basics

Python Basics: Building Systems With Classes

Python Basics: Building Systems With Classes

Feb 07, 2023 basics python

Build a Wordle Clone With Python and Rich

Build a Wordle Clone With Python and Rich

Feb 06, 2023 basics projects

Using the Terminal on Linux

Using the Terminal on Linux

Jan 31, 2023 basics

The Python Standard REPL: Try Out Code and Ideas Quickly

The Python Standard REPL: Try Out Code and Ideas Quickly

Jan 25, 2023 basics tools

Python Basics: Object-Oriented Programming

Python Basics: Object-Oriented Programming

Jan 24, 2023 basics python

Python Basics: File System Operations

Python Basics Exercises: File System Operations

Jan 17, 2023 basics python

Using the Terminal on macOS Title Image

Using the Terminal on macOS

Jan 10, 2023 basics

Python Basics: File System Operations

Python Basics: File System Operations

Dec 20, 2022 basics python

Python's "in" and "not in" Operators: Check for Membership

Python's "in" and "not in" Operators: Check for Membership

Dec 19, 2022 basics best-practices python

Python Basics: Dictionaries

Python Basics: Dictionaries

Dec 06, 2022 basics python

Advent of Code

Advent of Code: Solving Your Puzzles With Python

basics career testing

Python Basics: Scopes

Python Basics: Scopes

Python Basics: Numbers and Math

Python Basics: Numbers and Math

Python Basics: Strings and String Methods

Python Basics: Strings and String Methods

How to Add Python to PATH

How to Add Python to PATH

basics best-practices devops

How to Replace a String in Python

How to Replace a String in Python

basics best-practices

Python Basics: Conditional Logic & Control Flow

Python Basics: Conditional Logic and Control Flow