Intermediate Python Nanodegree

Glossary – Large Code Bases Using Libraries

1. Foundations
Exception PEPs (Python Enhancement Proposals) Type Hints
A special Python object that is raised A set of community driven guidelines that A simple way to add types to variables
when the program fails help Python developers understand key and methods.
language decisions and implement
Instantiation uniform code. Unified Modeling Language (UML)
Creating a new object in memory. A visual language for expressing
PEP-8 software structure, including objects,
Linter The Python style guide. class relationships, and sequences of
A tool that checks the quality of your tasks.
source code. Linters can check for a Raise an Exception
variety of errors, ranging from Disrupting the program by “throwing a
programmatic mistakes to stylistic issues. wrench in” the execution flow.

Pure function self

A method where the output is based In Python, the s​ elf​ keyword is a reference
solely on its inputs and no variables to the specific object we’re working with
outside the function’s scope are affected in memory
or changed.

2. Building Modules
__init__.py Decorators Partial Import
Special file that declares that a directory Extends a function’s behavior without Pythonic concept to import only a
is a Python module. The code in needing to rewrite the entire function. specific method, class, or variable from
__init__.py​ is executed when the Written as @
​ decorator a module, instead of importing the
module is imported. entire module. (e.g., f​rom src.module
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) import utility​).
Absolute Import A programming design pattern that
Pythonic concept to import a module by groups data attributes (instance Relative Import
searching for the module in the project’s variables) and related methods or Pythonic concept to import a module by
root folder (e.g. i
​ mport functions (instance methods) into o
​ bjects. searching for the module based on the
src.module.utility​). location of the executed code—for
Overrides example, by searching in a file located in
Abstract Class During object inheritance, if a method the current directory, as in:
A partially defined class that defines a body is rewritten by a child object, it is ​ module import utility
from​ .
common interface for other, concrete, considered an override. Common
classes. overrides include _
​ _eq__​, ​__str__​, and Static Method
__len__​. A special instance method that does not
Class Method depend on any other instance methods
A special instance method that is used to or variables. It does not have a
generate new object instances of the reference to s​ elf​. Decorated with
class. Decorated with @
​ classmethod. @static​.
3. Using Libraries
Encapsulation requirements.txt Virtual Environment
Bundling of methods or features into a Commonly used filename for a list of all A Python module that creates a
new interface. python library dependencies. Generated segmented directory where Python
in the CLI with: modules can be installed without
Pip Installs Python (pip) pip freeze > requirements.txt interfering with system modules.
Python utility to install python packages Created in CLI with:
from PyPI and other repositories. (Note: Strategy Object python3 -m venv venv
The acronym "pip" is recursive, since it is Design pattern that provides a common
itself one of the words in the acronym!) interface for methods that have different
execution algorithms (For example,
Python Package Index (PyPI) methods for converting multiple types of
A repository of software for the Python units.)
programming language.

4. Python in Systems
Argparser Legacy Code Subprocess
Python module that simplifies the Software that exists within a system that Python module used to spawn system
creation of command-line tools with is not necessarily written in a desirable processes (e.g., legacy code).
input arguments. language, but cannot be replaced.

Command-Line Tool
A utility that can be executed from the
terminal window (shell or BASH).

5. Python for Web

Application Program Interface (API) Requests Server
Communication protocol that allows two Popular Python module for consuming Specialized software that is designed to
computer systems to interact. On the information from web services. handle networked requests and
web, specific URLs commonly provide this responses.
protocol. Request/Response
Common terminology for sending and Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
Flask receiving data over HTTP network A web address for a specific server
Python framework for creating a web connections. action, which includes a protocol,
server. domain name, and path.

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

The protocol—or set of rules—governing
how requests are sent over the Internet.