What is Python?
Python is a high-level, interpreted, and general-purpose programming language. It is known for its simple syntax that closely resembles the English language. This makes Python an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced developers.
Python was created with the aim of making programming more readable and less complex. It helps developers focus more on solving problems rather than struggling with code structure or syntax.
Because of its simplicity, power, and community support, Python continues to grow rapidly and is preferred by both beginners and professionals.
Python is a computer language that helps us give instructions to the computer in a simple way. It is designed to be very easy to read, write, and understand — even for someone who is new to programming.
Why should we use Python?
- Easy to Learn: Its syntax is simple, clear, and similar to English.
- Beginner Friendly: Ideal for students who are just starting to learn programming.
- Widely Used: Used in web development, data analysis, machine learning, automation, and more.
- Huge Community: Large support community and thousands of free libraries available.
- Free and Open Source: Anyone can use and modify it without paying any license fees.
Real-life Example: Suppose you want to build a smart robot that responds to voice commands. Python makes this possible using libraries like SpeechRecognition and pyttsx3 — and the code is very easy to write!
Simple Python Example:
print("Hello, From ShikshaSanchar!")Hello, From ShikshaSanchar!
This is a basic Python program. The print() function is used to display messages on the screen. It is one of the most commonly used functions and is very helpful for debugging and learning.
History of Python
The Python programming language was created by Guido van Rossum in the late 1980s, and its first version was released in 1991.
He started this project during his Christmas holidays in 1989 as a hobby. His goal was to create a language that is easy to read, easy to write, and powerful enough for advanced tasks.
The name "Python" was not inspired by the snake 🐍, but by a British comedy show called “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”, which was Guido’s favorite.
Python Versions Timeline:
- Python 1.0 – Released in 1991. It included basic features like functions, modules, exceptions, etc.
- Python 2.0 – Released in 2000. It introduced garbage collection and Unicode support.
- Python 3.0 – Released in 2008. This version was not backward compatible with Python 2.x. It focused on removing older syntax and improving readability.
Today, Python is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It is used in web development, data science, machine learning, automation, and many other fields.
More About Python’s History
Simple & Extra Details for Students
- Before Python, Guido van Rossum worked on a language called ABC. He used its good parts to create something better — Python!
- He wanted to make a language that feels natural, like writing in English — not as complex as C or Java.
- Python became popular quickly, especially in universities and schools because it was great for teaching programming to beginners.
- Over time, Python grew stronger with the help of a large community of developers who added features and tools.
- Python is open-source, meaning anyone can use it freely and contribute to it from anywhere in the world.
- Today, big companies like Google, NASA, YouTube, Instagram, Netflix, and IBM use Python for different powerful tasks.