What is Python? And why is it the most loved programming language?

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity, readability, and versatility. Created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991.

Python is designed to emphasize code readability and reduce the cost of program maintenance. It uses an easy-to-understand syntax that allows developers to write clear and logical code for both small and large-scale projects.

Python supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.

It has a comprehensive standard library, which provides modules and functions for everything from working with files and data to networking and web development.

When we say it is open source it means, it is freely available on internet to download and get started with. You can download and install Python from its official website .

In addition, some third-parties offer re-packaged versions of Python that add commonly used libraries and other features to ease setup for common use cases, such as math, data analysis or scientific use.

Why is Python a Loved Programming Language?

Easy to Learn and Use: Python’s simple syntax is one of the key reasons it’s so popular. It reads almost like plain English, making it an ideal choice for beginners and experienced programmers alike. The ease of writing and understanding code in Python significantly speeds up development.
Versatility and Wide Range of Applications: Python can be used for various tasks, from web development (with frameworks like Django and Flask) to data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, and even game development. Its versatility makes it a go-to language for many developers.
Large Community and Ecosystem: Python has a massive global community that continuously contributes to its growth. This vibrant community has developed countless libraries and frameworks that extend Python’s capabilities. Whether you need to perform data analysis, create visualizations, or build web applications, there’s likely a Python library for it.
Strong Support for Data Science and AI: Python is particularly loved in the fields of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Libraries like NumPy, pandas, TensorFlow, and PyTorch have made Python the language of choice for many data professionals and researchers.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Python is cross-platform, meaning it can run on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. This flexibility allows developers to write code once and run it anywhere.
Rich Ecosystem of Libraries and Frameworks: Python’s vast collection of third-party libraries makes it incredibly powerful. Whether you need to work with data, build web applications, or automate tasks, Python has a library that can help.
Great for Prototyping and Rapid Development: Python’s simplicity allows for rapid development and prototyping, making it an excellent choice for startups and companies looking to quickly iterate and innovate.
High Demand in the Job Market: Python’s popularity in various fields like web development, data science, and AI means that there is a high demand for Python developers. Its versatility and widespread use across industries make it a valuable skill to have.

History of Python!

Python is an open source programming language that was made to be easy-to-read and powerful.

A Dutch programmer named Guido van Rossum made Python in 1991. He named it after the television show Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

The language’s core philosophy is summarized in the document The Zen of Python (PEP 20), which includes –

Beautiful is better than ugly
Explicit is better than implicit
Simple is better than complex
Complex is better than complicated
Readability counts

There are major two versions of python available now (Year: Mar-2020) that is, python 2.X and 3.X. Python 2.0 was released on 16 October 2000 and Python 3.0 (initially called Python 3000 or py3k) was released on 3 December 2008 after a long testing period.

Python 3.X is a major revision of the language that is not completely backward-compatible with previous versions 2.X

Python Release Notes:

List of python releases, you can opt any version and directly install on your computer. Installables are available on its official website python.org

Always prefer to install latest version of software which has upgraded functionality.

Python Version 3.x & 2.x

Version	Release Date
Python 3.8.2	24-Feb-20
Python 3.6.10	18-Dec-19
Python 3.5.3	17-Jan-17
Python 2.7.13	17-Dec-16
Python 2.7.10	23-May-15
Python 2.6.9	29-Oct-13
Python 2.5.6	26-May-11
Python 2.4.6	19-Dec-08

Python is used for?

Python is used by hundreds of thousands of programmers and is used in many places. Sometimes only Python code is used for a program, but most of the time it is used to do simple jobs while another programming language is used to do more complicated tasks.

It has wide varieties of standard libraries made up of many functions that come with Python when it is installed. These libraries make it a powerful language.

There are many other libraries available on internet that make it possible for the Python language to do more things.

Areas where python is often used:

Web development
Game programming
Desktop GUIs
Scientific programming
Network programming

Fun with Python!

Writing python program is itself having a fun, you will get know how when you explore more python world.

Here we start with our first program in python. You can write same python program in many ways as per your programming structure with same output.

This is the first simple python program to print “Hello World!”

				print(“Hello World!”)

print(“Hello World!”)

Or you can write in another way!

				ready = True

if ready:

    print(“Hello World!”)

ready = True

if ready:

    print(“Hello World!”)

You can create variables and assign any values – number or string to them, even you reassign them multiple times at any point in your program without worrying how it internally works.

Python is super awesome when it comes to variable assignment and memory management.

For brief description about variables & data types in python take a look at my other post.

				ready = True

if ready:

    print(“Good Luck! Happy Learning! ”)

ready = True

if ready:

    print(“Good Luck! Happy Learning! ”)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: