Python Tutorial
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Learn Python
Python is a popular programming language.
Python can be used on a server to create web applications.
Start learning Python now »
Learning by Examples
With our "Try it Yourself" editor, you can edit Python code and view the result.
Example
print("Hello, World!")
Try it Yourself »
Click on the "Try it Yourself" button to see how it works.
Python File Handling
In our File Handling section you will learn how to open, read, write, and delete files.
Python File Handling
Python Database Handling
In our database section you will learn how to access and work with MySQL and MongoDB databases:
Python MySQL Tutorial
Python MongoDB Tutorial
Python Exercises
Test Yourself With Exercises
Exercise:
Insert the missing part of the code below to output "Hello World".
("Hello World")
Start the Exercise
Python Examples
Learn by examples! This tutorial supplements all explanations with clarifying examples.
See All Python Examples
Python Quiz
Test your Python skills with a quiz.
Python Quiz
My Learning
Track your progress with the free "My Learning" program here at W3Schools.
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Python Reference
You will also find complete function and method references:
Reference Overview
Built-in Functions
String Methods
List/Array Methods
Dictionary Methods
Tuple Methods
Set Methods
File Methods
Python Keywords
Python Exceptions
Python Glossary
Random Module
Requests Module
Math Module
CMath Module
Download Python
Download Python from the official Python web site: //python.org
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Python Install
Many PCs and Macs will have python already installed.
To check if you have python installed on a Windows PC, search in the start bar for Python or run the following on the Command Line (cmd.exe):
C:\Users\Your Name>python --version
To check if you have python installed on a Linux or Mac, then on linux open the command line or on Mac open the Terminal and type:
If you find that you do not have Python installed on your computer, then you can download it for free from the following website: //www.python.org/
Python Quickstart
Python is an interpreted programming language, this means that as a developer you write Python (.py) files in a text editor and then put those files into the python interpreter to be executed.
The way to run a python file is like this on the command line:
C:\Users\Your Name>python helloworld.py
Where "helloworld.py" is the name of your python file.
Let's write our first Python file, called helloworld.py, which can be done in any text editor.
Simple as that. Save your file. Open your command line, navigate to the directory where you saved your file, and run:
C:\Users\Your Name>python helloworld.py
The output should read:
Congratulations, you have written and executed your first Python program.
The Python Command Line
To test a short amount of code in python sometimes it is quickest and easiest not to write the code in a file. This is made possible because Python can be run as a command line itself.
Type the following on the Windows, Mac or Linux command line:
C:\Users\Your Name>python
Or, if the "python" command did not work, you can try "py":
From there you can write any python, including our hello world example from earlier in the tutorial:
C:\Users\Your Name>python
Python 3.6.4 (v3.6.4:d48eceb, Dec 19 2017, 06:04:45) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> print("Hello, World!")
Which will write "Hello, World!" in the command line:
C:\Users\Your Name>python
Python 3.6.4 (v3.6.4:d48eceb, Dec 19
2017, 06:04:45) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> print("Hello, World!")
Hello, World!
Whenever you are done in the python command line, you can simply type the following to quit the python command line interface: