Python Tutorial

Python TutorialRelease 2.4.2Guido van RossumFred L. Drake, Jr., editor28 September 2005Python Software FoundationEmail: docs@python.orgCopyright © 2001 2004 Python Software Foundation. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2000 BeOpen.com. All rights reserved.Copyright © 1995 2000 Corporation for National Research Initiatives. All rights reserved.Copyright © 1991 1995 Stichting Mathematisch Centrum. All rights reserved.See the end of this document for complete license and permissions information.AbstractPython is an easy to learn, powerful programming language. It has efficient high level data structures and a simplebut effective approach to object oriented programming. Python’s elegant syntax and dynamic typing, togetherwith its interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting and rapid application development in manyareas on most platforms.The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are freely available in source or binary form for all majorplatforms from the Python Web site, http://www.python.org/, and may be freely distributed. The same site alsocontains distributions of and pointers to many free third party Python modules, programs and tools, and additionaldocumentation.The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data types implemented in C or C++ (or otherlanguages callable from C). Python is also suitable as an extension language for customizable applications.This tutorial introduces the reader ...