Python is a clear and powerful object-oriented programming language, comparable to Perl, Tcl, Scheme, or Java.
Some of Python's notable features:
- Python uses an elegant syntax for readable programs.
- Python is an agile language that makes it easy to get your program working. This makes Python an ideal language for prototype development and other ad-hoc programming tasks, without compromising maintainability.
- A variety of basic data types are available: numbers (integers, floating point, complex, and unlimited-length long integers), strings (both ASCII and Unicode), lists, dictionaries.
- Python supports object-oriented programming with classes and multiple inheritance.
- Code can be grouped into modules and packages.
- The language supports raising and catching exceptions, resulting in cleaner error handling.
- Data types are strongly but dynamically typed. Mixing incompatible types (e.g. attempting to add a string and a number) causes an exception to be raised.
- Python contains advanced programming features such as generators and list comprehensions.
- Automatic garbage collection frees you from the hassles of memory management.
- The large standard library supports many common programming tasks such as connecting to web servers, regular expressions, and file handling.
- Python's interactive mode makes it easy to test short snippets of code. There's also a bundled development environment called IDLE.
- The Python interpreter is easily extended by adding new modules implemented in a compiled language such as C or C++.
- The interpreter can also be embedded into an application to provide a programmable interface.
- Python runs on many different computers and operating systems: Windows, MacOS, many brands of Unix, OS/2, ...
Python is copyrighted but placed under [http://www.python.org/psf/license.html an open source license] meaning that Python can be freely used and distributed, even for commercial purposes.
To begin learning the Python language, you should download the Python interpreter (["BeginnersGuide/Download"]) and read a tutorial (["BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers"]).