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:

Introduction to Python 3

Lists and Tuples in Python

Jul 18, 2018 basics python

Python CSV Parsing

Reading and Writing CSV Files in Python

Jul 16, 2018 data-science intermediate python

Generating Random Data With Python

Generating Random Data in Python (Guide)

Jul 11, 2018 data-science intermediate python

Introduction to Python 3

Strings and Character Data in Python

Jul 09, 2018 basics python

Python String Formatting

Python String Formatting Best Practices

Jul 04, 2018 basics best-practices python

Cool New Features in Python 3.7

Cool New Features in Python 3.7

Jun 27, 2018 python

What Can I Build With Python?

What Can I Do With Python?

Jun 25, 2018 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Operators and Expressions in Python

Jun 20, 2018 basics python

Python YouTube Channels

The Ultimate List of Python YouTube Channels

Jun 18, 2018 python tools

Introduction to Python 3

Variables in Python

Jun 12, 2018 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Basic Data Types in Python

Jun 05, 2018 basics python

Python Application Layouts and Project Structures

Python Application Layouts: A Reference

Jun 04, 2018 basics best-practices python

Python Itertools

Itertools in Python 3, By Example

May 30, 2018 advanced python

Introduction to Python 3

Interacting with Python

May 28, 2018 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Python 3 Installation & Setup Guide

May 23, 2018 basics best-practices python

Introduction to Python 3

Introduction to Python 3

May 21, 2018 basics python

Data Classes in Python 3.7 (And Above)

The Ultimate Guide to Data Classes in Python 3.7

May 15, 2018 intermediate python

F-Strings in Python 3.6

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

May 14, 2018 basics python

Operator and Function Overloading in Python

Operator and Function Overloading in Custom Python Classes

May 08, 2018 intermediate python

Python Metaclasses and Metaprogramming

Python Metaclasses

May 01, 2018 advanced python

An Introduction to Python Exceptions

Python Exceptions: An Introduction

Apr 30, 2018 basics python

Python 3 "pathlib" Module: Taming The Filesystem

Python 3's pathlib Module: Taming the File System

Apr 23, 2018 intermediate python

Python Modules & Packages

Python Modules and Packages – An Introduction

Apr 17, 2018 basics python

Working With JSON Data in Python

Working With JSON Data in Python

Apr 16, 2018 intermediate python

Python Debugging With Pdb (Guide)

Python Debugging With Pdb

Apr 09, 2018 intermediate python tools

Beginner Tips for Learning Python

11 Beginner Tips for Learning Python Programming

Apr 03, 2018 basics python

Recursion in Python

Thinking Recursively in Python

Mar 27, 2018 intermediate python

What is the Python Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)?

What is the Python Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)?

Mar 06, 2018 advanced python

OOP in Python 3

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python 3

Feb 13, 2018 intermediate python

World-Class Software Companies Using Python

8 World-Class Software Companies That Use Python

Feb 08, 2018 python

Shallow vs Deep Copies in Python

Shallow vs Deep Copying of Python Objects

Jan 31, 2018 advanced python

Using Docker for Offline Python Deployments

Simplifying Offline Python Deployments With Docker

Jan 24, 2018 devops docker intermediate python

Python's Instance, Class, and Static Methods Demystified

intermediate python

Python generators

Introduction to Python Generators

intermediate python

Python Virtual Environments (venv)

Python Virtual Environments – A Primer

best-practices intermediate python tools

Python for social scientists

Python for Social Scientists

data-science python

Introduction to Python 3

First Steps With Python

Python Programming Challenge – First to Five

Python Programming Challenge – First to Five

Python, Ruby and Golang logos

Python, Ruby, and Golang: A Command-Line Application Comparison

intermediate python

Learn Python the Methodical Way

The Most Diabolical Python Antipattern

The Most Diabolical Python Antipattern

best-practices intermediate python

Python Inner Functions

Python Inner Functions—What Are They Good For?

intermediate python

Python Interview Problem – Parsing CSV Files

Python Interview Problem – Parsing CSV Files

basics data-science python

Python Decorators

Primer on Python Decorators

intermediate python