Core Python Language Tutorials

This page features all of our “pure Python” tutorials that focus on the core language features.

What is Python?

Python, named after the British comedy group Monty Python, is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. Its flexibility allows it to do many things, both big and small. Python can be used to write simple programs, but it also possesses the full power required to create complex, large-scale enterprise solutions. Some of the ways in which Python is used includes:

  • Desktop graphical application development, including games;
  • Mathematical and scientific analysis of data; and
  • Web and internet development.

Python’s presence in the world of computer programming can be found everywhere. For example, Python is used in some of the largest internet sites on earth - like Reddit, Dropbox, and Youtube, to name a few. The popular Python web framework Django powers both Instagram and Pinterest. LucasFilms’s award winning visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, uses Python to make help make their magic come to life.

It’s easy to forget just how powerful Python is because it’s so easy to learn.

Free Bonus: Python Cheat Sheet

Get a Python Cheat Sheet (PDF) and learn the basics of Python 3, like working with data types, dictionaries, lists, and Python functions:

Python Cheat Sheet
Python Zip Imports: Distribute Modules and Packages Quickly

Python Zip Imports: Distribute Modules and Packages Quickly

Dec 27, 2021 intermediate python tools

An Introduction to Python Exceptions

Raising and Handling Python Exceptions

Dec 21, 2021 basics python

Hosting a Django Project on Heroku

Host Your Django Project on Heroku

Dec 14, 2021 devops django intermediate python web-dev

Java vs Python: What Should a Java Developer Know About Python?

Java vs Python: Basic Python for Java Developers

Dec 13, 2021 intermediate python

Bitwise Operators in Python

Binary, Bytes, and Bitwise Operators in Python

Dec 07, 2021 intermediate python

Using Pretty Print in Python to Prettify Data Structures

Prettify Your Data Structures With Pretty Print in Python

Dec 06, 2021 intermediate python

Python's .append(): Add Items to Your Lists in Place

Building Lists With Python's .append()

Nov 16, 2021 basics python

Advanced Visual Studio Code for Python Developers

Advanced Visual Studio Code for Python Developers

Nov 10, 2021 advanced python tools

Build a Command-Line To-Do App With Python and Typer

Build a Command-Line To-Do App With Python and Typer

Nov 08, 2021 intermediate projects python testing tools

Basic Input, Output, and String Formatting in Python

Reading Input and Writing Output in Python

Nov 02, 2021 basics python

Python's zipapp: Build Executable Zip Applications

Python's zipapp: Build Executable Zip Applications

Nov 01, 2021 intermediate python tools

Python Best Practices Artwork

Writing Idiomatic Python

Oct 26, 2021 basics best-practices python

Using the "not" Boolean Operator in Python

Using the "not" Boolean Operator in Python

Oct 25, 2021 basics python

Using the len() Function in Python

Using the len() Function in Python

Oct 20, 2021 basics python

A Roadmap to XML Parsers in Python

A Roadmap to XML Parsers in Python

Oct 18, 2021 intermediate python

Python's property(): Add Managed Attributes to Your Classes

Python's property(): Add Managed Attributes to Your Classes

Oct 13, 2021 best-practices intermediate python

Representing Rational Numbers With Python Fractions

Representing Rational Numbers With Python Fractions

Oct 11, 2021 basics python

Python's sum(): The Pythonic Way to Sum Values

Python's sum(): The Pythonic Way to Sum Values

Oct 06, 2021 basics python

Python 3.10: Cool New Features for You to Try

Cool New Features in Python 3.10

Oct 05, 2021 intermediate python

Python 3.10: Cool New Features for You to Try

Python 3.10: Cool New Features for You to Try

Oct 04, 2021 intermediate python

Make Your First Python Game: Rock, Paper, Scissors!

Rock, Paper, Scissors With Python: A Command Line Game

Sep 28, 2021 basics gamedev python

Reverse Strings in Python: reversed(), Slicing, and More

Reverse Strings in Python: reversed(), Slicing, and More

Sep 27, 2021 basics best-practices python

Pass by Reference in Python: Background and Best Practices

Pass by Reference in Python: Best Practices

Sep 21, 2021 best-practices intermediate python

Using the "and" Boolean Operator in Python

Using the "and" Boolean Operator in Python

Sep 20, 2021 basics best-practices python

Data Classes in Python 3.7 (And Above)

Using Data Classes in Python

Sep 14, 2021 intermediate python

A Python Guide to the Fibonacci Sequence

A Python Guide to the Fibonacci Sequence

Sep 08, 2021 intermediate python

How Long Does It Take to Learn Python

How Long Does It Take to Learn Python?

Sep 06, 2021 basics community python

Using Python Optional Arguments When Defining Functions

Using Python Optional Arguments When Defining Functions

Aug 30, 2021 basics python

The Python math Module: Everything You Need to Know

Exploring the Python math Module

Aug 24, 2021 intermediate python

Python's deque: Implement Efficient Queues and Stacks

Python's deque: Implement Efficient Queues and Stacks

Aug 23, 2021 intermediate python

The Python return Statement: Usage and Best Practices

Using the Python return Statement Effectively

Aug 10, 2021 basics best-practices python

Python sleep(): How to Add Time Delays to Your Code

Using sleep() to Code a Python Uptime Bot

Aug 03, 2021 intermediate python

Python's ChainMap: Manage Multiple Contexts Effectively

Python's ChainMap: Manage Multiple Contexts Effectively

Aug 02, 2021 intermediate python

Python's collections: A Buffet of Specialized Data Types

Python's collections: A Buffet of Specialized Data Types

Jul 26, 2021 intermediate python

What Can I Build With Python?

What Can I Do With Python?

Jul 07, 2021 basics python

Defining Your Own Python Function

Defining and Calling Python Functions

Jul 06, 2021 basics python

Python's Counter: The Pythonic Way to Count Objects

Python's Counter: The Pythonic Way to Count Objects

Jul 05, 2021 basics python

Python Inner Functions

Python Inner Functions

Jun 29, 2021 intermediate python

Reverse Python Lists: Beyond .reverse() and reversed()

Reverse Python Lists: Beyond .reverse() and reversed()

Jun 28, 2021 basics python

CPython Internals: Paperback Now Available!

CPython Internals: Paperback Now Available!

Jun 23, 2021 advanced community python

Python vs JavaScript for Pythonistas

Python vs JavaScript for Python Developers

Jun 22, 2021 front-end intermediate python

Simplify Complex Numbers With Python

Simplify Complex Numbers With Python

Jun 21, 2021 intermediate python

Working With Linear Systems in Python With scipy.linalg

Working With Linear Systems in Python With scipy.linalg

Jun 16, 2021 intermediate python

Python's filter(): Extract Values From Iterables

Python's filter(): Extract Values From Iterables

Jun 09, 2021 best-practices intermediate python

Python Basics Video Course Setup Artwork

Python Basics: Setting Up Python

Jun 08, 2021 basics python

Context Managers and Python's with Statement

Context Managers and Python's with Statement

Jun 02, 2021 intermediate python

How to Use the Python or Operator

Using the Python or Operator

May 18, 2021 basics python

Write Pythonic and Clean Code With namedtuple

Write Pythonic and Clean Code With namedtuple

May 12, 2021 intermediate python