Python (programming language)
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| Python (programming language) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Python |
| Paradigm | Multi-paradigm |
| Designer | Guido van Rossum |
| Developer | Python Software Foundation |
| Released | 20 February 1991 |
| Latest release version | 3.13.0a6 |
| Latest release date | 19 March 2024 |
| Typing | Duck, dynamic, strong |
| Influenced by | ABC, ALGOL 68, C, Haskell, Icon, Java, Lisp, Modula-3, Perl |
| Influenced | Boo, Cobra, D, F#, Go, Groovy, Julia, Nim, Ruby, Swift |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| License | Python Software Foundation License |
| Website | https://www.python.org/ |
Python (programming language). Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. Its design philosophy emphasizes code readability through the use of significant indentation and a clear, expressive syntax. The language is dynamically typed and garbage-collected, supporting multiple programming paradigms including object-oriented, imperative, functional, and procedural styles. Python is maintained and developed by the Python Software Foundation, a non-profit organization.
History
The language's conception began in the late 1980s at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in the Netherlands, where Guido van Rossum sought to create a successor to the ABC language. The first public release, version 0.9.0, occurred in February 1991, incorporating features from languages like Modula-3 and integrating an exception handling model. A major milestone was the release of Python 2.0 in 2000, which introduced features such as list comprehensions and a cycle-detecting garbage collector. The development of Python 3.0, a major, backward-incompatible release, began in 2008 to rectify fundamental design flaws; the transition was supported by tools like the 2to3 utility, and official support for Python 2 ended in 2020. Key events in its evolution are outlined in documents like PEP 20 (The Zen of Python) and PEP 8 (Style Guide).
Features and philosophy
Python's core philosophy is summarized in PEP 20, which includes aphorisms such as "Beautiful is better than ugly" and "Simple is better than complex." It is an interpreted language, often using the CPython reference implementation, and employs dynamic name resolution. A key feature is its comprehensive "batteries-included" standard library, providing modules for tasks ranging from internet protocols to GUI development. The language supports multiple programming paradigms without forcing a single style, facilitates Metaprogramming through decorators, and uses a clear, English-like syntax that prioritizes readability. This philosophy has made it a favorite for teaching introductory programming at institutions like the MIT.
Syntax and semantics
Python is notable for using significant whitespace (indentation) to delimit code blocks, a feature inspired by ABC. Its syntax allows for expressive constructs like list comprehensions, dictionary and set comprehensions, and generator expressions. The language uses a straightforward object model where everything is an object, including classes and functions. Common control flow statements include `if`/`elif`/`else`, `for` loops (which iterate over sequences), and `while` loops. Error handling is managed through a `try`/`except` model, and the language supports first-class functions and lambda expressions.
Libraries and frameworks
Python's extensive ecosystem is a major strength, centered around the Python Package Index (PyPI), which hosts hundreds of thousands of third-party packages. For scientific computing, key libraries include NumPy for numerical arrays, SciPy for advanced mathematics, and pandas for data analysis. In machine learning and AI, frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn are industry standards. For web development, full-stack frameworks such as Django and Flask are widely adopted. Other notable libraries include Matplotlib for plotting, Requests for HTTP, and SQLAlchemy for database access.
Applications
Python is used across a vast array of domains due to its versatility and rich library support. It is a cornerstone of data science and big data analytics, used by companies like Google, Facebook, and Netflix. In web development, it powers the backend of major sites like Instagram, Pinterest, and Spotify. The language is integral to DevOps and system administration, with tools like Ansible written in it. It is also used for desktop GUI applications, education, rapid prototyping, and even in specialized fields like astronomy with the Astropy project and bioinformatics.
Implementations
The primary and most widely used implementation is CPython, the reference implementation written in C. Other major implementations include Jython, which runs on the Java Virtual Machine and integrates with Java libraries; IronPython, which targets the .NET Framework and Common Language Runtime; and PyPy, a just-in-time compiler that often provides significant performance improvements over CPython. For specialized domains, implementations like MicroPython and CircuitPython are designed to run on microcontrollers and in embedded systems, expanding the language's reach beyond traditional computing environments.
Category:Python (programming language) Category:Programming languages