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

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

best-practices intermediate python

Representing Rational Numbers With Python Fractions

Representing Rational Numbers With Python Fractions

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

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

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

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

basics best-practices python

Pass by Reference in Python: Background and Best Practices

Pass by Reference in Python: Best Practices

Sep 21, 2021 best-practices intermediate python

Using the "and" Boolean Operator in Python

Using the "and" Boolean Operator in Python

Sep 20, 2021 basics best-practices python

Data Classes in Python 3.7 (And Above)

Using Data Classes in Python

Sep 14, 2021 intermediate python

A Python Guide to the Fibonacci Sequence

A Python Guide to the Fibonacci Sequence

Sep 08, 2021 intermediate python

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

$The Python math Module: Everything You Need to Know$

Exploring the Python math Module

Aug 24, 2021 intermediate python

Python's deque: Implement Efficient Queues and Stacks

Python's deque: Implement Efficient Queues and Stacks

Aug 23, 2021 intermediate python

The Python return Statement: Usage and Best Practices

Using the Python return Statement Effectively

Aug 10, 2021 basics best-practices python

Python sleep(): How to Add Time Delays to Your Code

Using sleep() to Code a Python Uptime Bot

Aug 03, 2021 intermediate python

Python's ChainMap: Manage Multiple Contexts Effectively

Python's ChainMap: Manage Multiple Contexts Effectively

Aug 02, 2021 intermediate python

Python's collections: A Buffet of Specialized Data Types

Python's collections: A Buffet of Specialized Data Types

Jul 26, 2021 intermediate python

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

Python Inner Functions

Python Inner Functions

Jun 29, 2021 intermediate python

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

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

Jun 28, 2021 basics python

CPython Internals: Paperback Now Available!

CPython Internals: Paperback Now Available!

Jun 23, 2021 advanced community python

Python vs JavaScript for Pythonistas

Python vs JavaScript for Python Developers

Jun 22, 2021 front-end intermediate python

Simplify Complex Numbers With Python

Simplify Complex Numbers With Python

Jun 21, 2021 intermediate python

Working With Linear Systems in Python With scipy.linalg

Working With Linear Systems in Python With scipy.linalg

Jun 16, 2021 intermediate python

Python's filter(): Extract Values From Iterables

Python's filter(): Extract Values From Iterables

Jun 09, 2021 best-practices intermediate python

Python Basics Video Course Setup Artwork

Python Basics: Setting Up Python

Jun 08, 2021 basics python

Context Managers and Python's with Statement

Context Managers and Python's with Statement

Jun 02, 2021 intermediate python

How to Use the Python or Operator

Using the Python or Operator

May 18, 2021 basics python

Write Pythonic and Clean Code With namedtuple

Write Pythonic and Clean Code With namedtuple

May 12, 2021 intermediate python

Common Python Data Structures (Guide)

Stacks and Queues: Selecting the Ideal Data Structure

May 11, 2021 basics python

Recursion in Python: An Introduction

Recursion in Python: An Introduction

May 10, 2021 intermediate python

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

Python's map() Function: Transforming Iterables

Apr 27, 2021 basics best-practices python

Start Contributing to Python: Your First Steps

Start Contributing to Python: Your First Steps

Apr 12, 2021 community intermediate projects python

Object-Oriented Programming in Python vs Java

Python vs Java: Object Oriented Programming

Apr 06, 2021 intermediate python

When to Use a List Comprehension in Python

Understanding Python List Comprehensions

Mar 30, 2021 basics python

OrderedDict vs dict in Python: The Right Tool for the Job

OrderedDict vs dict in Python: The Right Tool for the Job

Mar 29, 2021 intermediate python

Common Python Data Structures (Guide)

Records and Sets: Selecting the Ideal Data Structure

Mar 23, 2021 basics python

Introduction to Python 3

Navigating Namespaces and Scope in Python

Mar 02, 2021 basics python

Common Python Data Structures (Guide)

Dictionaries and Arrays: Selecting the Ideal Data Structure

Feb 23, 2021 basics python

Functional Programming in Python: When and How to Use It

Functional Programming in Python: When and How to Use It

Feb 17, 2021 intermediate python

Python Modulo in Practice: How to Use the % Operator

Python Modulo: Using the % Operator

Feb 09, 2021 basics python

Python Inner Functions

Python Inner Functions: What Are They Good For?

Feb 08, 2021 intermediate python

Python's eval(): Evaluating Expressions Dynamically

Evaluate Expressions Dynamically With Python eval()

Jan 26, 2021 intermediate python

How to Use Python: Your First Steps

How to Use Python: Your First Steps

Jan 25, 2021 basics python

C for Python Programmers

C for Python Programmers

Jan 20, 2021 basics python

Sorting Algorithms in Python

Introduction to Sorting Algorithms in Python

Jan 19, 2021 intermediate python

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

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

Jan 18, 2021 basics gamedev python