Introduction to Python: Just Practical Stuff : Part 1

Agenda

1. What is IDE?

2. Data Types

3. Variables

4. Operators

What is IDE and where to code?

Before we begin with learning a programming language, we should be well ready with the prerequisites for the same.

An IDE (or Integrated Development Environment) is a program which is dedicated to software development. They are comprised of several tools specifically designed for software development.

To download an IDE, please click here. This link consists of a list of IDEs with their features mentioned as well as links to download them.

Which Python version we will be working on? Python 3.x. I will be using Jupyter Notebook to illustrate examples and explain the functionality. feel free to use any of the IDE

---

Data Types

It refers to the classification of the data stored inside a data item. Primarily we’ll focus on the3 main types namely:

i) String → It is used to store character/sentences and can be created using single/double/triple quotes.

ii) Float → It is used to store numerical values with decimal.

iii) Integer → It is used to store numerical values without the decimals

Note: To see data type of any object, we can use type() function

---

Variable Declaration Python has no command for declaring a variable. A variable is created the moment you first assign a value to it.

1. Creating Variables

x = 5
y = “John”

2. Casting Variables → It is used to specify the data type of a variable

x = str(3) # x will be ‘3’
y = int(3) # y will be 3
z = float(3) # z will be 3.0

3. Variable names are case-sensitive. A variable can have a short name or a more descriptive name.

Rules for Python variables:

• A variable name must start with a letter or the underscore character

• A variable name cannot start with a number

• A variable name can only contain alpha-numeric characters and underscores (A-z, 0–9, and _

• Variable names are case-sensitive (age, Age and AGE are three different variables)

a = 4
A = “Sally”
#A will not overwrite a

4. Assign multiple values

# Python allows assigning values to multiple variables in one line

x, y, z = “Orange”, “Banana”, “Cherry”

5. Assign same value to multiple variables

x = y = z = “Orange”

6. Concept of Global Variables

These are the variables that are created outside of a function

x = “ashington”

def goof_up():
    print(“Our savior is “ + x)
    
goof_up()

To create a global variable inside a function, you can use the ‘global’ keyword.

def goof_up():
    global x
    x = “awesome”

goof_up()
print(“Ashington is “ + x)

---

Operators

Arithmetic Operators

Modulus is used to get remainder of a division

Exponentiation is used to get power on x raised to y

Floor Division is used to divide 2 numbers and remove the decimal part

Assignment Operators

Comparison Operators

Logical Operators

Membership Operators

Bitwise Operators