Getting Started with Python

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its clean, readable syntax. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. Python emphasizes code readability and simplicity, making it one of the most popular languages for beginners and professionals alike.

Python is used in web development, data science, artificial intelligence, automation, scripting, and much more.

Installing Python

Visit https://python.org/downloads
Download the latest stable version (3.x).
Run the installer. On Windows, check "Add Python to PATH" before clicking Install.
Verify installation by opening a terminal and running:

python --version

Your First Python Program

Create a file named hello.py and write:

print("Hello, World!")

Run it from the terminal:

python hello.py

The print() function outputs text to the console. It's the most basic way to see output from your program.

Python vs Other Languages

Feature	Python	JavaScript
Indentation	Required (enforced)	Optional (style only)
Semicolons	Not needed	Optional
Typing	Dynamic	Dynamic
Block delimiters	Indentation	Curly braces `{}`
File extension	`.py`	`.js`

Comments

Comments are lines Python ignores — they're for human readers.

# This is a single-line comment

"""
This is a
multi-line comment (docstring)
"""

print("Comments don't affect output")

The REPL (Interactive Shell)

Type python in your terminal to enter the interactive shell. You can run Python one line at a time — great for experimenting.

>>> 2 + 2
4
>>> print("Hello")
Hello

Type exit() to leave the REPL.

Learn Python In Depth

Week 1: Python Basics & Setup