introduction to Python

 What is Python?
Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity, readability,
and versatility. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991.

 Why Learn Python?

 Easy to read and write
 Widely used in web development, data science, machine learning, automation, and more
 Huge community and plenty of libraries
 Great for both beginners and experienced developers

 Basic Features
 Interpreted: Runs directly without compiling
 Dynamically typed: No need to declare variable types
 Object-oriented: Supports OOP features like classes and inheritance
 Extensive standard library: Comes with lots of built-in modules

 First Python Program

Python:
 print("Hello, world!")

This prints a simple greeting to the screen. Python code is usually saved with a .py extension
and run using the Python interpreter.
  Basic Concepts
Variables

Python:
 name = "Alice"
 age = 25

Data Types

 int – integers: 10
 float – decimals: 3.14
 str – strings: "Hello"
 bool – booleans: True, False

Conditional Statements

Python:
 if age > 18:
 print("Adult")
 else:
 print("Minor")

Loops

Python:
# For loop

 for i in range(5):
 print(i)

# While loop

 count = 0
 while count < 5:
 print(count)
 count += 1

Functions

Python:
 def greet(name):
 print("Hello", name)
 greet("Developer")
  Popular Python Libraries
 numpy – numerical computations
 pandas – data analysis
 matplotlib – data visualization
 requests – web requests
 flask / django – web development
 scikit-learn / tensorflow – machine learning

 What Can You Build with Python?

 Web applications
 Desktop software
 Automation scripts
 Data analysis tools
 AI and machine learning models
 Games

Getting Started with Python

  Step 1: Install Python

Download & Install Python:

1. Go to the official site: https://python.org

2. Download the latest version for your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

3. Install Python (example: in Windows*)

 Step 2: Check Python Installation
Open your terminal or command prompt (cmd) and type:

CMD:
 python –version

You should see something like:

Python 3.x.x

If not, try:

CMD:
 python3 –version

 Step 3: Write Your First Python Code

Option 1: Using the Python Shell

Just type python in your terminal, and you’ll enter an interactive shell.

Python:
 print("Hello, Python!")
Hello, Python!

Exit with exit() or Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + D.

Option 2: Using a Python File

 1. Create a new file called your_name.py
2. Add the following code:

Python:
 print("Hello, Python!")

(Save As... x.txt to x.py)

3. Run it from your terminal:

CMD:
 python hello.py

(python x.py)
  Step 4: Choose a Code Editor or IDE
Some popular choices:

 VS Code – Lightweight and powerful

 PyCharm – Full-featured Python IDE
 Thonny – Great for beginners
 Jupyter Notebook – Perfect for data science
variables

 What is a Variable in Python?

A variable is like a container in Python that stores data. It has a name and holds a value.

 Creating Variables
You don’t need to declare the type — Python figures it out for you.

Python:
# Integer variable
 age = 19

# Float variable
 price = 19.99

# String variable
 name = "Shay"

# Boolean variable
 is_online = True
  Printing Variables
Python:
 print(name) # Output: Shay
 print(age + 5) # Output: 30
  Variable Naming Rules

 Must start with a letter or underscore (_)

 Cannot start with a number
 Can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores
 Python is case-sensitive (Name and name are different)

✅ Valid:

Python:
 user_name = "Souhail"
 _user2 = 2025

❌ Invalid:

Python:
 2user = "Souhail" # Error: starts with a number
 user-name = "Developer" # Error: hyphen is not allowed
  Multiple Assignment
You can assign multiple values in one line:

Python:
 x, y, z = 1, 2, 3

Or assign the same value:

Python:
 a = b = c = 100

 Type Checking
Python:
 print(type(age)) # <class 'int'>
 print(type(price)) # <class 'float'>
 print(type(name)) # <class 'str'>
  What is Type Checking?
In Python, every variable has a type, such as:

 int for integers (like 1, 2, 100)

 float for decimal numbers (like 3.14, 9.99)
 str for strings (like "hello", "Developer")

If you want to check the type of a variable, you can use the built-in function type().

Example:

Python:
 age = 21
 price = 19.99
 name = "Cormac"

 print(type(age)) # Output: <class 'int'>

 print(type(price)) # Output: <class 'float'>
 print(type(name)) # Output: <class 'str'>

Explanation:

 type(age) checks what type of value age is holding — it returns <class 'int'>
because 21 is an integer.
 type(price) returns <class 'float'> because 19.99 is a decimal number.
 type(name) returns <class 'str'> because "Cormac" is a string (text).
 Why Use type()?
 Helps debug your code
 Confirms data types before performing operations (e.g., math operations on numbers
only)
 Useful when you're working with user input, which is always a string by default
Data Types
In Python, data types represent the kind of value a variable holds. Python automatically detects
the type when you assign a value.

 Numeric Types
Used for numbers.

➤ int — Integer

Whole numbers (positive, negative, or zero)

Python:
 x = 10
 print(type(x)) # <class 'int'>

➤ float — Floating Point Number

Decimal numbers

Python:
 pi = 3.14
 print(type(pi)) # <class 'float'>

➤ complex — Complex Number

Used in mathematics, contains real and imaginary parts

Python:
 z = 2 + 3j
 print(type(z)) # <class 'complex'>
  Text Type
➤ str — String

A sequence of characters (text)

Python:
 name = "Souhail"
 print(type(name)) # <class 'str'>

 Boolean Type
➤ bool — Boolean

Only two values: True or False

Python:
 is_active = True
 print(type(is_active)) # <class 'bool'>
  Sequence Types
list — Mutable Sequence

 A list can contain items of different data types

 Elements can be added, removed, or changed

Python:
 fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
 print(fruits[0]) # Output: apple
 fruits.append("orange") # Add an item
 fruits[1] = "mango" # Change an item
 print(fruits) # OP: ['apple', 'mango', 'cherry', 'orange']

tuple — Ordered, unchangeable collection

Python:
 colors = ("red", "green", "blue")
 print(type(colors)) # <class 'tuple'>
range — Sequence of numbers (often used in loops)

Python:
 nums = range(5)
 print(type(nums)) # <class 'range'>

 Mapping Type
➤ dict — Dictionary: key-value pairs

Python:
 person = {"name": "Meliodas", "age": 3000}
 print(type(person)) # <class 'dict'>

 Set Types
➤ set — Unordered, unique items

Python:
my_set = {1, 2, 3}
print(type(my_set)) # <class 'set'>

➤ frozenset — Immutable version of a set

Python:
f_set = frozenset([1, 2, 3])
print(type(f_set)) # <class 'frozenset'>

 Binary Types
Binary types are used to store and work with binary data — like data from files (especially
non-text files like images, audio, video, etc.).

Python provides three main types for binary data:

Type Description
bytes Immutable sequence of bytes

bytearray Mutable version of bytes

memoryview Used to access buffer without copying

When to Use These?

 bytes: When you read binary files and don’t need to change them.
 bytearray: When you need to manipulate binary data.
 memoryview: For efficient data access/modification without making copies (used in high-
performance or large data processing).

bytes

 A bytes object is immutable (cannot be changed).

  It stores a sequence of integers between 0 and 255.
 Commonly used when reading binary data from files.

Example:

Python:
 b = bytes(4)
 print(b) # Output: b'\x00\x00\x00\x00' (4 zero bytes)
 print(type(b)) # Output: <class 'bytes'>

You can also create it from a list of integers:

Python:
 b2 = bytes([65, 66, 67])
 print(b2) # Output: b'ABC'

bytearray

 Similar to bytes, but mutable — you can change the contents.

  Useful when you need to modify binary data.

Example:

Python:
 ba = bytearray([1, 2, 3, 4])
 print(ba) # Output: bytearray(b'\x01\x02\x03\x04')

 ba[0] = 100 # Change the first byte

 print(ba) # Output: bytearray(b'd\x02\x03\x04')

memoryview

 Allows you to access and modify data in bytes or bytearray without copying it.
  Very efficient for working with large data.

Example:

Python:
 ba = bytearray([10, 20, 30, 40])
 mv = memoryview(ba)

 print(mv[1]) # Output: 20
 mv[1] = 99 # Modify using memoryview
 print(ba) # Output: bytearray(...) — changed to 99

 None Type
Represents absence of a value
Python:
 value = None
 print(type(value)) # <class 'NoneType'>

Summary Table
Data Type Example
int x = 10
float pi = 3.14
complex z = 1 + 2j
str name = "Alice"
bool is_valid = True
list nums = [1, 2, 3]
tuple t = (1, 2)
range r = range(5)
dict d = {"key": "value"}
set s = {1, 2, 3}
frozenset fs = frozenset([1, 2])
bytes b = bytes(4)
NoneType x = None

Conditional Statements
 What Are Conditional Statements?
Conditional statements let your program make decisions. You can run different blocks of code
depending on whether a condition is True or False.

Python provides:

 if statement
 elif (else if) statement
 else statement

 if Statement
Runs a block of code only if the condition is true.

Syntax:

Python:
if condition:
# code block

Example:

Python:
 age = 20

 if age >= 18:

 print("You are an adult.")

 elif Statement
Stands for "else if". It checks another condition if the previous one was False.

Syntax:
Python:
if condition1:
# block 1
elif condition2:
# block 2

Example:

Python:
 marks = 75

 if marks >= 90:

 print("Grade A")

 elif marks >= 70:

 print("Grade B")

 else Statement
Runs a block of code if none of the previous if or elif conditions are true.

Syntax:
Python:
if condition1:
# block 1
elif condition2:
# block 2
else:
# block 3

Example:

Python:
 score = 40

 if score >= 90:

 print("Excellent")

 elif score >= 50:

 print("Passed")

 else:
 print("Failed")

 Using Logical Operators

Combine multiple conditions using:

 and → True if both conditions are True

 or → True if one of the conditions is True
 not → Inverts the condition
Example:

Python:
 age = 25

 country = "USA"

 if age > 18 and country == "USA":

 print("Eligible to vote in the USA")

 Nested if Statements
You can put one if statement inside another.

Example:

Python:
 age = 20
  has_id = True

 if age >= 18:

 if has_id:
 print("Access granted")

 else:
 print("ID required")

 Tips for Writing Conditional Statements

 Use indentation (4 spaces or a tab) — it's required in Python!

 Keep conditions clear and readable
 Avoid deeply nested conditions — they make code harder to read
 Use elif instead of multiple ifs when conditions are related

Loops
 What are Loops?
Loops allow you to execute a block of code multiple times — either a specific number of times
or while a condition remains true.

Python provides two main types of loops:

 1. for loop
2. while loop

We also use break and continue to control the loop flow.

 for Loop
Used to iterate over a sequence (like a list, tuple, string, or range()).

Syntax:

Python:
for variable in sequence:
# code block
Example:

Python:
 fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

 for fruit in fruits:

 print(fruit)

Looping with range()

Python:
 for i in range(5):
 print(i)

 while Loop
Repeats a block as long as a condition is True.

Syntax:

Python:
while condition:
# code block
Example:

Python:
 count = 0

 while count < 5:

 print("Count is:", count)
 count += 1

⚠ Be careful: while loops can become infinite loops if the condition never becomes False.

 break Statement
Used to exit a loop early when a condition is met.

Example:

Python:
 for i in range(10):
 if i == 5:
 break
 print(i)
  continue Statement
Skips the current iteration and moves to the next one.

Example:

Python:
 for i in range(5):
 if i == 2:
 continue
 print(i)

 else with Loops

Both for and while loops can have an else clause that runs after the loop finishes, only if it
didn’t exit via break.

Example:

Python:
 for i in range(3):
 print(i)
  else:
 print("Loop finished without break.")

 Summary Table

Loop Type When to Use

for When you know how many times to loop or want to iterate through items
while When looping based on a condition
break To stop the loop early
continue To skip part of the loop and continue
else To run a block when loop ends normally

Function
 What is a Function?
A function is a block of code that performs a specific task. You can call (or use) that block of
code whenever you need it, instead of repeating the same code multiple times.
  Defining a Function
Use the def keyword to define a function.

Syntax:

Python:
def function_name(parameters):
# code block
return result # (optional)

Example:

Python:
 def greet(name):
 print("Hello, " + name + "!")

 greet("Souhail")
 greet("Developer")

 Return Statement
Functions can return values using the return keyword.

Example:

Python:
 def add(a, b):
 return a + b

 result = add(5, 3)
  print(result)

 Function with Default Parameters

You can give default values to parameters. If the caller doesn’t provide a value, the default is
used.

Example:

Python:
 def greet(name="Guest"):
 print("Hello, " + name)

 greet() # uses default

 greet("Shay") # uses provided value
  Keyword Arguments
You can pass arguments using parameter names:

Python:
 def student_info(name, age):
 print(f"Name: {name}, Age: {age}")

 student_info(age=20, name=" Gwynevere")

 Arbitrary Arguments
If you don’t know how many arguments will be passed:

args: for multiple positional arguments

python:
 def total(*numbers):
 return sum(numbers)

 print(total(1, 2, 3, 4)) # 10
kwargs: for multiple keyword arguments

python:
 def show_info(**info):
 for key, value in info.items():
 print(f"{key}: {value}")

 show_info(name="Shay", age=19)

 Nested Functions
Functions can be defined inside other functions:

Python:
 def outer():
 def inner():
 print("Inner function")
 inner()

 outer()
  Lambda Functions (Anonymous functions)
Useful for small, one-line functions.

Python:
 square = lambda x: x * x
 print(square(5)) # 25

 Benefits of Using Functions

 Avoid code repetition
 Make code easier to read and maintain
 Break problems into smaller, manageable parts
 Improve reusability

 Summary
 Feature Description
def Defines a function
return Returns a result from the function
*args / **kwargs Accept variable numbers of arguments
Default parameters Provide fallback values
Lambda function Small anonymous function

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