Python syntax#

The first thing that tends to catch your eye when it comes to Python syntax is that indentation matters:

  • It determines which code is inside the block

  • When a block of code starts and ends

Example of Python code:

a = 10
b = 5

if a > b:
    print("A greater than B")
    print(a - b)
else:
    print("B is greater than or equal to A")
    print(b - a)

print("End")

def open_file(filename):
    print("Reading File", filename)
    with open(filename) as f:
        return f.read()
        print("Ready")

Note

This code is shown for syntax demonstration. Although if/else statement has not yet been covered, it is likely that the meaning of code will be clear in general.

Python understands which lines refer to “if” on indentation basis. Execution of a block if a > b ends when another string with the same indent as string if a > b appears. Similarly to block else. The second feature of Python is that some expressions must be followed by colon (for example, after if a > b and after else).

Several rules and recommendations on indentation:

  • Tabs or spaces can be used as indents (it is better to use spaces or more precisely to configure editor so that Tab is 4 spaces - then when using Tab key, 4 spaces will be placed instead of 1 tab sign).

  • Number of spaces must be the same in one block (it is better to have the same number of spaces in whole code - popular option is to use 2-4 spaces, for example, this book uses 4 spaces).

Another feature of code above is empty lines. It makes reading code easier. Other syntax features will be shown during process of familiarization with data structures in Python.

Note

Python has a special document that describes how best to write Python code PEP 8 - Style Guide for Python Code.

Comments#

When writing code you often need to leave a comment, for example, to describe features of code.

Comments in Python can be one-line:

# A very important comment
a = 10
b = 5 # A much needed comment

One-line comments start with hash sign. Note that comment can be in line where code itself is or in a separate line.

If it is necessary to write several lines with comments in order to not put hash sign before each line, you can make a multi-line comment:

"""
Very important
and long comment
"""
a = 10
b = 5

Three double or three single quotes may be used for a multi-line comment. Comments can be used both to comment on what happens in code and to exclude execution of a particular line or block of code (i.e., to comment it).