Python Beginner Notes

Comments
Text written in a program but not run by the computer is called a comment. Python
interprets anything after a # as a comment. Comments
1. Provide context for why something is written the way it is

2. Help other people reading the code understand it faster
3. Ignore a line of code and see how a program will run without it
Print
In Python, the print() function is used to tell a computer to talk. The message
to be printed should be surrounded by quotes. Print is also used in calculations.
Strings
Computer programmers refer to blocks of text as strings. In our last exercise, we
created the string “Hello world!”. In Python a string is either surrounded by double
quotes ("Hello world") or single quotes ('Hello world'). It doesn’t
matter which kind you use, just be consistent.
Variables
Programming languages offer a method of storing data for reuse. If there is a
greeting we want to present, a date we need to reuse, or a user ID we need to
remember we can create a variable which can store a value. In Python, we assign
variables by using the equals sign (=).
Variables can’t have spaces or symbols in their names other than an underscore
(_). They can’t begin with numbers but they can have numbers after the first
letter (e.g., cool_variable_5 is OK).

Errors (2 types) Python points to the error location with a ^ character. When
programs throw errors that we didn’t expect to encounter we call those errors
bugs. Programmers call the process of updating the program so that it no longer
produces unexpected errors debugging.
● SyntaxError something wrong with how your program is written —
punctuation that does not belong, a command where it is not expected, or

a missing parenthesis
● A NameError not recognized word. Code that contains something that
looks like a variable but was never defined
Numbers
An integer, or int, whole number, no decimal point, A floating-point number, or a
float, decimal number used to represent fractional quantities as well as

precise measurements, averages, etc. Numbers can be assigned to variables or
used literally in a program:
Changing Numbers
Variables that are assigned numeric values can
be treated the same as the numbers
themselves. Two variables can be added
together, divided by 2, and multiplied by a third
variable without Python distinguishing between

the variables and literals (like the number 2 in
this example). Performing arithmetic on

variables does not change the variable — you
can only update a variable using the = sign.
Exponents (**)
Since this operation is so related to multiplication, we use the notation **.
Modulo (%)
Python offers a companion to the division operator called the modulo operator.
Modulo operator is indicated by % and gives remainder of a division calculation. If
the number is divisible, then the result of the modulo operator will be 0.
Concatenation
The + operator doesn’t just add two
numbers, it can also “add” two strings!

string concatenation. If you want to
concatenate a string with a number

you will need to make the number a
string first, using str() function
If you’re trying to print() a numeric

variable you can use commas to
pass it as a different argument
rather than converting it to a string.
Plus Equals
Python offers a shorthand for
updating variables. When you
have a number saved in a
variable and want to add to the
current value of the variable, you
can use += (plus-equals)
+= (plus-equals) also
can be used for string
concatenation: We create
social media captions,
but then update caption
to include important tags
Multi-line Strings
Python strings are very flexible, but if we try to create a string that occupies
multiple lines we find ourselves face-to-face with a SyntaxError. Python
offers a solution: multi-line strings. By using three quote-marks (""" or ''')
instead of one, we tell the

program that the string doesn’t
end until the next triple-quote.
Control Flow Each action/step is a product of the conditions of the day and your
surroundings. In Python, your script will execute from the top down, until there is nothing
left to run. It is your job to include gateways, known as conditional statements, to tell
the computer when it should execute certain blocks of code. If these conditions are
met, then run this function.
Relational Operators: Equals & Not Equals

● Equals: ==
● Not Equals: !=
Boolean Variables
True False when typed in (uppercase T&F), they appear in different colors cuz they
are a special type of their own: bool. no quotation marks, must capitalize 1st letter!
True and False are the only bool types, and any variable that is assigned one of
these values is called a boolean variable.

Python Beginner Notes

Uploaded by

Python Beginner Notes

Uploaded by

Comments

1. Provide context for why something is written the way it is

letter (e.g., cool_variable_5 is OK).

● SyntaxError something wrong with how your program is written —

punctuation that does not belong, a command where it is not expected, or

looks like a variable but was never defined

float, decimal number used to represent fractional quantities as well as

variable without Python distinguishing between

this example). Performing arithmetic on

numbers, it can also “add” two strings!

concatenate a string with a number

If you’re trying to print() a numeric

offers a solution: multi-line strings. By using three quote-marks (""" or ''')

instead of one, we tell the

Relational Operators: Equals & Not Equals

You might also like