Introduction to Python

What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn what Python is, why it is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, and what kind of applications you can build using it.

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language. Created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991, Python’s design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its notable use of significant indentation.

Python is dynamically typed and garbage-collected. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including structured, object-oriented, and functional programming.

Why Learn Python?

1. Easy to Read and Learn: Python’s syntax is simple and looks a lot like plain English, making it an excellent language for beginners.
2. Versatile: You can use Python for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, automation, and more.
3. Huge Community: A massive, active community means endless libraries, frameworks, and support when you run into issues.

Basic Example

Here is what Python code looks like compared to other languages. Notice how clean it is:

# This is a simple Python program
print("Hello, World!")

Expected Output:

Hello, World!

Try It Yourself