Python Fundamentals
Variables and Data Types in Python
What are Variables?
• Variables are used to store data that can be used and manipulated in a
program.
• A variable is created when you assign a value to it using the = operator.
• Example:
name = "Alice"
age = 25
height = 5.6
Variable Naming Rules
• Variable names can contain letters, numbers, and underscores.
• Variable names must start with a letter or underscore.
• Variable names are case-sensitive.
• Avoid using Python keywords as variable names (e.g., print , if , else ).
Best Practices
• Use descriptive names that reflect the purpose of the variable.
• Use lowercase letters for variable names.
• Separate words using underscores for readability (e.g., first_name ,
total_amount ).
Data Types in Python
Python supports several built-in data types:
• Integers ( int ): Whole numbers (e.g., 10 , -5 ).
• Floats ( float ): Decimal numbers (e.g., 3.14 , -0.001 ).
• Strings ( str ): Text data enclosed in quotes (e.g., "Hello" , 'Python' ).
• Booleans ( bool ): Represents True or False .
• Lists: Ordered, mutable collections (e.g., [1, 2, 3] ).
• Tuples: Ordered, immutable collections (e.g., (1, 2, 3) ).
• Sets: Unordered collections of unique elements (e.g., {1, 2, 3} ).
• Dictionaries: Key-value pairs (e.g., {"name": "Alice", "age": 25} ).
Checking Data Types
• Use the type() function to check the data type of a variable.
print(type(10)) # Output: <class 'int'>
print(type("Hello")) # Output: <class 'str'>
Typecasting in Python
What is Typecasting?
• Typecasting is the process of converting one data type to another.
• Python provides built-in functions for typecasting:
• int() : Converts to integer.
• float() : Converts to float.
• str() : Converts to string.
• bool() : Converts to boolean.
Examples:
# Convert string to integer
num_str = "10"
num_int = int(num_str)
print(num_int) # Output: 10
# Convert integer to string
num = 25
num_str = str(num)
print(num_str) # Output: "25"
# Convert float to integer
pi = 3.14
pi_int = int(pi)
print(pi_int) # Output: 3
Taking User Input in Python
Using the input() Function
• The input() function allows you to take user input from the keyboard.
• By default, input() returns a string. You can convert it to other data types as
needed.
• Example:
name = input("Enter your name: ")
age = int(input("Enter your age: "))
print(f"Hello {name}, you are {age} years old.")
Comments, Escape Sequences & Print Statement
Comments
• Comments are used to explain code and are ignored by the Python
interpreter.
• Single-line comments start with # .
• Multi-line comments are enclosed in ''' or """ .
# This is a single-line comment
'''
This is a
multi-line comment
'''
Escape Sequences
• Escape sequences are used to include special characters in strings.
• Common escape sequences:
• \n : Newline
• \t : Tab
• \\ : Backslash
• \" : Double quote
• \' : Single quote
• Example:
print("Hello\nWorld!")
print("This is a tab\tcharacter.")
Print Statement
• The print() function is used to display output.
• You can use sep and end parameters to customize the output.
print("Hello", "World", sep=", ", end="!\n")
Operators in Python
Types of Operators
1. Arithmetic Operators:
1. + (Addition), - (Subtraction), * (Multiplication), / (Division), %
(Modulus), ** (Exponentiation), // (Floor Division).
2. Example:
print(10 + 5) # Output: 15
print(10 ** 2) # Output: 100
2. Comparison Operators:
1. == (Equal), != (Not Equal), > (Greater Than), < (Less Than), >=
(Greater Than or Equal), <= (Less Than or Equal).
2. Example:
print(10 > 5) # Output: True
print(10 == 5) # Output: False
3. Logical Operators:
1. and , or , not .
2. Example:
print(True and False) # Output: False
print(True or False) # Output: True
print(not True) # Output: False
4. Assignment Operators:
1. = , += , -= , *= , /= , %= , **= , //= .
2. Example:
x = 10
x += 5 # Equivalent to x = x + 5
print(x) # Output: 15
5. Membership Operators:
1. in , not in .
2. Example:
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
print("banana" in fruits) # Output: True
6. Identity Operators:
1. is , is not .
2. Example:
x = 10
y = 10
print(x is y) # Output: True
Summary
• Variables store data, and Python supports multiple data types.
• Typecasting allows you to convert between data types.
• Use input() to take user input and print() to display output.
• Comments and escape sequences help make your code more readable.
• Python provides a variety of operators for performing operations on data.
