Python Built-in Functions Explained

abs()

Returns the absolute value of a number.

Example:

abs(-7) -> 7

all()

Returns True if all elements in an iterable are true.

Example:

all([True, True]) -> True

any()

Returns True if any element in an iterable is true.

Example:

any([False, True]) -> True

ascii()

Returns a readable version of an object, escaping non-ASCII characters.

Example:

ascii('ñ') -> "'\xf1'"

bin()

Returns the binary representation of an integer.

Example:

bin(10) -> '0b1010'

bool()

Converts a value to Boolean.

Example:

bool(0) -> False

breakpoint()

Drops into the debugger at the call site.

Example:

breakpoint()

bytearray()

Returns a bytearray object.

Example:

bytearray([65, 66]) -> bytearray(b'AB')

bytes()

Returns a bytes object.

Example:

bytes(3) -> b'\x00\x00\x00'

callable()

Checks if the object appears callable.

Example:

callable(len) -> True

chr()

Returns a character from the Unicode code.

Example:

chr(65) -> 'A'

classmethod()

Returns a class method for the given function.

Used with @classmethod.

compile()

Compiles source into a code object.

Example:

compile('2+2', '', 'eval')

complex()

Creates a complex number.

Example:

complex(1, 2) -> (1+2j)

delattr()

Deletes an attribute from an object.

Example:

delattr(obj, 'attr')

dict()

Creates a dictionary.

Example:

dict(a=1, b=2)

dir()

Returns a list of valid attributes for an object.

Example:

dir([])

divmod()

Returns quotient and remainder.

Example:

divmod(8, 3) -> (2, 2)

enumerate()

Returns an enumerate object.

Example:

enumerate(['a','b'])

eval()

Evaluates a string as Python expression.

Example:

eval('2+2') -> 4

exec()

Executes dynamically created Python code.

Example:

exec('x=5')

filter()

Filters items in an iterable.

Example:

filter(lambda x: x>0, [-1, 0, 1])

float()

Converts to floating-point number.

Example:

float('3.14')

format()

Formats a string.

Example:

format(5, '02') -> '05'

frozenset()

Returns an immutable frozenset.

Example:

frozenset([1, 2, 3])

getattr()

Returns value of named attribute.

Example:

getattr(obj, 'attr')

globals()

Returns the global namespace dictionary.

hasattr()

Checks if object has attribute.

Example:

hasattr(obj, 'attr')

hash()

Returns hash value of an object.

Example:

hash('abc')

help()

Invokes built-in help system.

Example:

help(str)

hex()
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

Returns hexadecimal string of an integer.

Example:

hex(255) -> '0xff'

id()

Returns the unique ID of an object.

Example:

id(42)

input()

Takes input from user.

Example:

input('Enter: ')

int()

Converts value to integer.

Example:

int('5')

isinstance()

Checks instance type.

Example:

isinstance(5, int)

issubclass()

Checks if a class is subclass of another.

Example:

issubclass(bool, int)
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

iter()

Returns an iterator.

Example:

iter([1, 2])

len()

Returns length.

Example:

len('abc') -> 3

list()

Creates a list.

Example:

list('abc') -> ['a', 'b', 'c']

locals()

Returns the local namespace dictionary.

map()

Applies a function to items.

Example:

map(str.upper, ['a', 'b'])

max()

Returns maximum value.

Example:

max([1, 3]) -> 3

memoryview()
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

Returns memory view object.

min()

Returns minimum value.

Example:

min([1, 3]) -> 1

next()

Retrieves next item from iterator.

Example:

next(iter([1, 2]))

object()

Creates a new featureless object.

oct()

Returns octal string.

Example:

oct(8) -> '0o10'

open()

Opens a file.

Example:

open('file.txt', 'r')

ord()

Returns Unicode code from a character.

Example:

ord('A') -> 65
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

pow()

Power function.

Example:

pow(2, 3) -> 8

print()

Prints to stdout.

Example:

print('Hello')

property()

Returns a property attribute.

range()

Returns a range object.

Example:

range(3) -> [0, 1, 2]

repr()

Returns string representation.

Example:

repr('abc') -> "'abc'"

reversed()

Returns reversed iterator.

Example:

reversed([1, 2, 3])

round()
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

Rounds a number.

Example:

round(3.14159, 2) -> 3.14

set()

Creates a set.

Example:

set([1, 2, 2]) -> {1, 2}

setattr()

Sets an attribute on an object.

Example:

setattr(obj, 'attr', val)

slice()

Creates a slice object.

Example:

slice(1, 5)

sorted()

Returns sorted list.

Example:

sorted([3, 1, 2])

staticmethod()

Defines a static method.

str()

Converts to string.
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

Example:

str(123) -> '123'

sum()

Returns sum of elements.

Example:

sum([1, 2, 3]) -> 6

super()

Refers to parent class.

Example:

super().method()

tuple()

Creates a tuple.

Example:

tuple([1, 2])

type()

Returns the type of an object.

Example:

type(3) -> <class 'int'>

vars()

Returns __dict__ of an object.

zip()

Combines iterables.

Example:
 Python Built-in Functions Explained

zip([1, 2], ['a', 'b'])

__import__()

Imports a module by name.

Example:

__import__('math')