1.
Introduction to Python
What is Python?
Python is a versatile and powerful programming language known for its easy-to-read syntax. It's
widely used in various fields, from web development and data science to artificial intelligence
and automation.
Why Learn Python?
Python is popular due to its:
Ease of Learning: Clear, English-like syntax.
Community Support: Many resources and libraries available for different tasks.
Versatility: Used for web development, data analysis, machine learning, etc.
2. Basic Syntax and Variables
Hello World
Start with the classic "Hello, World!" example:
Explanation: This line of code tells Python to display text to the screen. print() is a built-in
function that outputs whatever is inside its parentheses.
Variables and Data Types
Variables store information that can be used and manipulated in a program.
Explanation:
Python is dynamically typed, meaning you don’t need to declare variable types explicitly.
Here, we assign name as a string, age as an integer, height as a float, and is_student as a
Boolean.
Comments
Comments help clarify code and are not executed. They start with # for single-line comments or
triple quotes for multi-line comments.
3. Data Structures
Lists
Lists are ordered collections, ideal for storing related items.
Explanation:
Lists are mutable, meaning items can be added, removed, or modified.
append() adds an item to the end, while remove() deletes an item.
Allows Duplicates: Items can repeat.
Dictionaries
Definition: Dictionaries store data as key-value pairs, where each key is unique.
Characteristics:
o Unordered: Items do not have a specific order.
o Mutable: You can add, modify, or remove key-value pairs.
o Unique Keys: Each key must be unique, but values can repeat.
Explanation: Dictionaries are ideal for when you need to map one thing (key) to another
(value), such as storing information about a person where each detail has a label.
Tuples
Definition: Tuples are ordered collections of items that cannot be changed (immutable).
Characteristics:
o Ordered: Items have a defined order.
o Immutable: Once created, you cannot change, add, or remove items.
o Allows Duplicates: Items can repeat.
Explanation: Tuples are useful when you have a collection of items that shouldn’t change, like
coordinates (x, y) or months in a year.
Sets
Definition: Sets are unordered collections of unique items.
Characteristics:
o Unordered: No specific order, so items can't be accessed by index.
o Mutable: You can add or remove items.
o Unique Items: Duplicates are not allowed.
Explanation: Sets are great for storing unique items without any specific order. They are
commonly used for operations involving unique values, like finding unique names in a list.
4. Control Flow
If Statements
Conditionals allow us to make decisions in code.
Explanation:
The if statement checks if age is 18 or more.
Python uses indentation (4 spaces or a tab) to define code blocks.
Loops
Loops let us repeat actions.
Explanation:
for loop iterates a specific number of times, often using range().
while loop runs as long as the condition ( counter < 3) remains true.
5. Functions
Defining and Calling Functions
Functions are reusable blocks of code.
Explanation:
def defines a function.
greet() takes name as a parameter and returns a personalized greeting.
Built-in Functions
Python includes many useful built-in functions, like len(), sum(), max(), and min().
6. File Handling
Reading and Writing Files
Let’s learn how to read and write to text files.
Explanation:
The with statement ensures the file is closed after reading or writing.
"w" mode opens the file for writing, and "r" mode opens it for reading.
7. Mini Project
Project: Number Guessing Game
Let’s create a small game where the user guesses a random number.
