Pakistan International School Jeddah – English Section
International Computing – Stage 8
Unit 8.4 High Level Programming Language
Skills Covered: Python Notes
Name: ___________________________________________ Grade: Y8 __
Python Introduction
What is Python?
Python is a popular programming language. It was
created by Guido van Rossum, and released in 1991.
It is used for:
web development (server-side),
software development,
mathematics,
system scripting.
What can Python do?
Python can be used on a server to create web applications.
Python can be used alongside software to create workflows.
Python can connect to database systems. It can also read and modify
files.
Python can be used to handle big data and perform complex
mathematics.
Python can be used for rapid prototyping, or for production-ready
software development.
Why Python?
Python works on different platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi,
etc).
Python has a simple syntax similar to the English language.
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Python has syntax that allows developers to write programs with fewer
lines than some other programming languages.
Python runs on an interpreter system, meaning that code can be
executed as soon as it is written. This means that prototyping can be very
quick.
Python can be treated in a procedural way, an object-oriented way or a
functional way.
Python Syntax compared to other programming
languages
Python was designed for readability, and has some similarities to the
English language with influence from mathematics.
Python uses new lines to complete a command, as opposed to other
programming languages which often use semicolons or parentheses.
Python relies on indentation, using whitespace, to define scope; such as
the scope of loops, functions and classes. Other programming languages
often use curly-brackets for this purpose.
Example
print("Hello, World!")
Python Comments
Comments can be used to explain Python code.
Comments can be used to make the code more readable.
Comments can be used to prevent execution when testing code.
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Creating a Comment
Comments starts with a #, and Python will ignore them:
Example
#This is a comment
print("Hello, World!")
Comments can be placed at the end of a line, and Python will ignore the rest of
the line:
Example
print("Hello, World!") #This is a comment
Since Python will ignore string literals that are not assigned to a variable, you
can add a multiline string (triple quotes) in your code, and place your comment
inside it:
Example
"""
This is a comment
written in
more than just one line
"""
print("Hello, World!")
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Python Programs
Program 1:
Program 2:
Program 3:
Program 4: