Python Language Description

[jovelyn jo]

Jovelyn N. Jo BSIT - IV
Python Programming Language Description

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming
language. It incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic typing, very
high level dynamic data types, and classes. Python combines remarkable
power with very clear syntax. It has interfaces to many system calls
and libraries, as well as to various window systems, and is extensible
in C or C++. It is also usable as an extension language for
applications that need a programmable interface. Python was designed
to be a highly readable language. It aims toward an uncluttered visual
layout, uses English keywords frequently where other languages use
punctuation. It requires less boilerplate than traditional statically-
typed structured languages such as C or Pascal, and has a smaller
number of syntactic exceptions and special cases than either of these.
Python uses indentation/whitespace, rather than curly braces, to
delimit statement blocks. An increase in indentation comes after
certain statements; a decrease in indentation signifies the end of the
current block. Python is often characterised as minimalist, although
this only applies to the core language's syntax and semantics; the
standard library provides the language with a large number of
additional libraries and extensions. Python is a multi-paradigm
programming language which has a fully dynamic type system and uses
automatic memory management; it is thus similar to Perl, Ruby, Scheme,
Smalltalk, and Tcl. Miscellaneous parts of the language have formal
specifications and standards, but not the language as a whole.
Finally, Python is portable: it runs on many brands of UNIX, on the
Mac, and on MS-DOS.