Python Top Features for Coding 2024

“Python is an experiment in how much freedom programmers need. Too much freedom and nobody can read another’s code; too little and expressiveness is endangered.” — Guido Van Rossum

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Some key features of Python are as follows:

1. Simple and Expressive
   Python has a simple syntax that is easy to read and write.
   For example,

print("Hello, World!") # prints a greeting.

2. Easy to Learn
The language’s simplicity makes it accessible for beginners. Python has a gentle learning curve. Basic syntax and concepts are easy to grasp, like variables, loops, and functions.

# variable
my_variable = 7

# loop
for i in range(5):
    print(i)

# function
def my_function():
   print("called my function")

3. Scripting Language
Python scripts are executable code written for a particular runtime environment. Example: script.py
It can be used to write scripts for automating tasks:

import os
os.rename("oldfile.txt", "newfile.txt")

4. Open Source
It’s free, and the source code is available to all, encouraging community contribution.

5. General Purpose
Python can be used in various domains, like web development, scientific computing, data analysis, AI, and more. Example: Flask/Django for web apps; Pandas for data analysis; and so on.

6. Interpreted (Hybrid)
Python code is executed line-by-line by an interpreter rather than compiled, which makes debugging easier.

7. Platform Independent
Python code runs on various platforms, like Windows, Mac, and Linux, without recompilation. Write once, run anywhere (WORA).

8. Portable
Programs written in Python can be moved from one platform to another with minimal adjustments and executed with the interpreter installed.

9. Procedural and Object-Oriented
Python supports both procedural and OOP paradigms.
Example: classes for OOP, functions for procedural.

10. Dynamically Typed
There is no need to declare variable types; it’s handled at runtime. Example: x = 5.

11. Extensible
It can be extended with modules or packages written in other languages like C/C++, Java, etc.

12. Embeddable
Python can be embedded into other applications to provide scripting capabilities.

# embedding example
from something import some_function # importing a function from another application or library
some_function() # using the function within a python script

13. Huge Library
Python comes with a large collection of standard and external libraries and packages for various needs.

# library example
import math # importing the math library
print(math.sqrt(36)) # printing the square root of 36 using a function from the math library

14. Scalable
Python is suitable for large projects as well as small ones; it scales well, from simple scripts to large applications.
Spotify, for example, is a scalable Python application that relies on Python for backend services, data analysis, machine learning, and web development. To do this, Spotify employs a variety of approaches, including multiprocessing, microservices, caching, and load balancing.