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Georg Brandl48310cd2009-01-03 21:18:54 +00004 The Python Tutorial
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +00005######################
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Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +00007Python is an easy to learn, powerful programming language. It has efficient
8high-level data structures and a simple but effective approach to
9object-oriented programming. Python's elegant syntax and dynamic typing,
10together with its interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting
11and rapid application development in many areas on most platforms.
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13The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are freely available
14in source or binary form for all major platforms from the Python Web site,
Georg Brandle73778c2014-10-29 08:36:35 +010015https://www.python.org/, and may be freely distributed. The same site also
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000016contains distributions of and pointers to many free third party Python modules,
17programs and tools, and additional documentation.
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19The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data types
20implemented in C or C++ (or other languages callable from C). Python is also
21suitable as an extension language for customizable applications.
22
23This tutorial introduces the reader informally to the basic concepts and
24features of the Python language and system. It helps to have a Python
25interpreter handy for hands-on experience, but all examples are self-contained,
26so the tutorial can be read off-line as well.
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Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +000028For a description of standard objects and modules, see :ref:`library-index`.
29:ref:`reference-index` gives a more formal definition of the language. To write
30extensions in C or C++, read :ref:`extending-index` and
31:ref:`c-api-index`. There are also several books covering Python in depth.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000032
33This tutorial does not attempt to be comprehensive and cover every single
34feature, or even every commonly used feature. Instead, it introduces many of
35Python's most noteworthy features, and will give you a good idea of the
36language's flavor and style. After reading it, you will be able to read and
37write Python modules and programs, and you will be ready to learn more about the
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +000038various Python library modules described in :ref:`library-index`.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000039
Guido van Rossumf10aa982007-08-17 18:30:38 +000040The :ref:`glossary` is also worth going through.
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Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000042.. toctree::
Benjamin Peterson5879d412009-03-30 14:51:56 +000043 :numbered:
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000044
45 appetite.rst
46 interpreter.rst
47 introduction.rst
48 controlflow.rst
49 datastructures.rst
50 modules.rst
51 inputoutput.rst
52 errors.rst
53 classes.rst
54 stdlib.rst
55 stdlib2.rst
Andrew Kuchlingdd15b362015-06-08 17:35:45 -040056 venv.rst
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000057 whatnow.rst
58 interactive.rst
59 floatingpoint.rst
Senthil Kumaran15e48332014-09-18 21:30:28 +080060 appendix.rst