Core Python Language Tutorials

This page features all of our “pure Python” tutorials that focus on the core language features.

What is Python?

Python, named after the British comedy group Monty Python, is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. Its flexibility allows it to do many things, both big and small. Python can be used to write simple programs, but it also possesses the full power required to create complex, large-scale enterprise solutions. Some of the ways in which Python is used includes:

  • Desktop graphical application development, including games;
  • Mathematical and scientific analysis of data; and
  • Web and internet development.

Python’s presence in the world of computer programming can be found everywhere. For example, Python is used in some of the largest internet sites on earth - like Reddit, Dropbox, and Youtube, to name a few. The popular Python web framework Django powers both Instagram and Pinterest. LucasFilms’s award winning visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, uses Python to make help make their magic come to life.

It’s easy to forget just how powerful Python is because it’s so easy to learn.

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:

Python Cheat Sheet
Python Set Comprehensions: How and When to Use Them

Python Set Comprehensions: How and When to Use Them

Dec 11, 2024 intermediate python

How to Run Your Python Scripts

How to Run Your Python Scripts and Code

Dec 08, 2024 basics best-practices devops python

Python Timer Functions: Three Ways to Monitor Your Code

Python Timer Functions: Three Ways to Monitor Your Code

Dec 08, 2024 intermediate python

Using and Creating Global Variables in Your Python Functions

Using and Creating Global Variables in Your Python Functions

Dec 08, 2024 intermediate best-practices python

How to Round Numbers in Python

How to Round Numbers in Python

Dec 07, 2024 intermediate best-practices python

When to Use a List Comprehension in Python

When to Use a List Comprehension in Python

Dec 07, 2024 basics python

Python Socket Programming

Socket Programming in Python (Guide)

Dec 07, 2024 advanced python web-dev

Expression vs Statement in Python: What's the Difference?

Expression vs Statement in Python: What's the Difference?

Dec 04, 2024 basics python

LBYL vs EAFP: Preventing or Handling Errors in Python

Handling or Preventing Errors in Python: LBYL vs EAFP

Dec 03, 2024 intermediate best-practices python

Basic Input, Output, and String Formatting in Python

Basic Input and Output in Python

Dec 02, 2024 basics python

How to Check if a Python String Contains a Substring

How to Check if a Python String Contains a Substring

Dec 01, 2024 basics best-practices python

Python String Formatting: Available Tools and Their Features

Python String Formatting: Available Tools and Their Features

Dec 01, 2024 basics best-practices python

An Introduction to Python Exceptions

Python Exceptions: An Introduction

Dec 01, 2024 basics python

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

Python's F-String for String Interpolation and Formatting

Nov 30, 2024 basics python

Python's range() Function

Python range(): Represent Numerical Ranges

Nov 24, 2024 basics python

Efficient String Concatenation in Python

Efficient String Concatenation in Python

Nov 24, 2024 basics best-practices python

How to Iterate Through a Dictionary in Python

How to Iterate Through a Dictionary in Python

Nov 23, 2024 intermediate python

Interacting With Python

Interacting With Python

Nov 21, 2024 basics python

NumPy Practical Examples: Useful Techniques

NumPy Practical Examples: Useful Techniques

Nov 20, 2024 intermediate numpy python

NumPy Practical Examples: Useful Techniques

NumPy Practical Examples: Useful Techniques

Nov 20, 2024 intermediate numpy python

Interacting With Python

Interacting With Python

Nov 18, 2024 basics python

Using the Python zip() Function for Parallel Iteration

Using the Python zip() Function for Parallel Iteration

Nov 17, 2024 basics python

Using the len() Function in Python

Using the len() Function in Python

Nov 16, 2024 basics python

Namespaces and Scope in Python

Namespaces and Scope in Python

Nov 14, 2024 basics python

Python Dictionary Comprehensions: How and When to Use Them

Python Dictionary Comprehensions: How and When to Use Them

Nov 13, 2024 intermediate python

Basic Input, Output, and String Formatting in Python

Basic Input and Output in Python

Nov 13, 2024 basics python

Python Dictionary Comprehensions: How and When to Use Them

Python Dictionary Comprehensions: How and When to Use Them

Nov 13, 2024 intermediate python

How to Format Floats Within F-Strings in Python

Formatting Floats Inside Python F-Strings

Nov 12, 2024 basics python

How to Reset a pandas DataFrame Index

How to Reset a pandas DataFrame Index

Nov 06, 2024 intermediate best-practices data-science python

Variables in Python

Variables in Python: Usage and Best Practices

Nov 05, 2024 basics python

Variables in Python

Variables in Python: Usage and Best Practices

Nov 04, 2024 basics python

Python Closures: Common Use Cases and Examples

Python Closures: Common Use Cases and Examples

Oct 30, 2024 intermediate python

Python's Magic Methods: Leverage Their Power in Your Classes

Python's Magic Methods in Classes

Oct 29, 2024 advanced python

How to Reset a pandas DataFrame Index

How to Reset a pandas DataFrame Index

Oct 25, 2024 intermediate data-science python

Python Thread Safety: Using a Lock and Other Techniques

Python Thread Safety: Using a Lock and Other Techniques

Oct 23, 2024 intermediate python

Python Class Constructors: Control Your Object Instantiation

Python Class Constructors: Control Your Object Instantiation

Oct 23, 2024 intermediate python

What is the Python Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)?

Understanding Python's Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)

Oct 22, 2024 advanced python

Defining Your Own Python Function

Defining Your Own Python Function

Oct 22, 2024 basics python

Python's property(): Add Managed Attributes to Your Classes

Python's property(): Add Managed Attributes to Your Classes

Oct 21, 2024 intermediate best-practices python

Single and Double Underscores in Python Names

Single and Double Underscores in Python Names

Oct 17, 2024 intermediate best-practices python

Structural Pattern Matching in Python

Structural Pattern Matching in Python

Oct 16, 2024 intermediate python

Getting Started With Async Features in Python

Getting Started With Async Features in Python

Oct 15, 2024 intermediate python

Syntactic Sugar: Why Python Is Sweet and Pythonic

Syntactic Sugar: Why Python Is Sweet and Pythonic

Oct 14, 2024 intermediate best-practices python

Python Thread Safety: Using a Lock and Other Techniques

Python Thread Safety: Using a Lock and Other Techniques

Oct 13, 2024 intermediate python

Structural Pattern Matching in Python

Structural Pattern Matching

Oct 10, 2024 intermediate python

Python 3.13: Cool New Features for You to Try

What's New in Python 3.13

Oct 08, 2024 intermediate python

Python Closures: Common Use Cases and Examples

Python Closures: Common Use Cases and Examples

Oct 08, 2024 intermediate python

Iterators and Iterables in Python: Run Efficient Iterations

Iterators and Iterables in Python: Run Efficient Iterations

Oct 04, 2024 intermediate python