Day 2: Python Syntax

Python, known for its simplicity and readability, is an excellent programming language for beginners.

Indentation

In Python, indentation is used to denote blocks of code, which are groups of statements executed together. The standard indentation is four spaces. Let's see an example:

x = 10
if x > 5:
    # This line is indented
    print("x is greater than 5") 
    # This line is also indented
    print("This line is also indented") 
# This line is not indented
print("This line is not indented") 

Comments

Comments, starting with a hashtag symbol, are used to explain the code, enhancing its understandability. Everything after the hashtag symbol is ignored by the interpreter. Here's how you can use comments in your code:

# This is a comment
x = 10 # This is also a comment

Statements and Variables

A statement, a line of code that performs a specific task, and a variable, a named location in memory that stores a value, are fundamental concepts in Python. Here are some examples of statements and variables:

x = 10
y = 20
z = 30

# Multiple statements on the same line
x = 10; y = 20; z = 30

x = 10
y = "Hello"
z = True

# Valid variable names
my_variable = 10
_private_variable = 20

# Invalid variable names
# 10_invalid = 10 (starts with a digit)
# invalid-variable = 20 (contains a hyphen)

Data Types

Python has several built-in data types, including integers, floats, strings, and booleans. Here are some examples:

# Integer
x = 10

# Float
y = 10.5

# String
z = "Hello"

# Boolean
flag = True

# And much more ...

Operators

Operators are special symbols that perform operations on values, such as arithmetic, assignment, and comparison. Here's how you can use operators in your code:

# Arithmetic operators
x = 10
y = 20
z = x + y # z = 30
z = x - y # z = -10
z = x * y # z = 200
z = x / y # z = 0.5
z = x % y # z = 10

# Assignment operators
x = 10
x += 5 # x = 15
x -= 5 # x = 10
x *= 5 # x = 50
x /= 5 # x = 10

# Comparison operators
x = 10
y = 20
z = x == y # z = False
z = x != y # z = True
z = x < y # z = True
z = x > y # z = False
z = x <= y # z = True
z = x >= y # z = False

# And much more ...

Functions

A function is a block of code that performs a specific task. Here's how you can define and use functions in your code:

# Define a function
def greet(name):
    print("Hello, " + name)

# Call the function
greet("John") # Prints "Hello, John"

# Use a built-in function
x = min(10, 20) # x = 10

Modules

A module is a collection of related functions and variables that can be imported into a program. Here's how you can use modules in your code:

# Import a built-in module
import math

# Use a function from the module
x = math.sqrt(25) # x = 5.0

# Create a custom module
# my_module.py
def greet(name):
    print("Hello, " + name)

# Use the custom module
# main.py
import my_module
my_module.greet("John") # Prints "Hello, John"

Learn More

Want to learn more about Python for Machine Learning? Check out the full course HERE.

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