Python is a high-level, interpreted, and general-purpose programming language known for its simplicity and readability.
- It supports multiple programming paradigms such as procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.
Why Python?
- Ease of Learning: Simple syntax resembling natural language.
- Versatile: Suitable for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, etc.
- Cross-Platform: Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Extensive Libraries: Comes with built-in and third-party libraries for various applications.
- Community Support: A large and active developer community.
Installing and Running Python
Installing Python:
- Download from python.org and follow the installation guide.
- Ensure the “Add Python to PATH” option is checked during installation.
Running Python:
- Interactive Shell: Launch Python from the terminal/command prompt and type commands interactively.
- Console/Script Mode: Write Python scripts in a .py file and execute them via the terminal using python filename.py.
Using IDLE and IDE
- IDLE: Integrated Development and Learning Environment comes with Python by default and provides a simple interface for writing and executing code.
- IDE (Integrated Development Environment): Tools like PyCharm, VS Code, or Jupyter Notebook provide advanced features like debugging, version control, and more.
