Introduction
Python is one of the most popular programming languages today, with applications ranging from machine learning and data analysis to web development and automation.It’s simple to learn, powerful enough for complex projects and flexible enough to make your own tweaks as needed.
Python was created by Guido van Rossum in 1991 while he was working at Stichting Mathematisch Centrum (CWI) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The name “Python” comes from Monty Python’s Flying Circus – a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1969-1974 on BBC TV. Guido wanted his language to be fun and easy to use like the show!
However, mastering Python can be challenging, especially for beginners. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the lesser-known hacks and techniques that can help students become proficient in Python programming.
Pyhton is free to use and can be installed from here – Click.
1. Use List Comprehension
List comprehension is a concise way to create lists in Python. It allows you to generate a list by specifying a formula or condition. For example, suppose you want to create a list of all even numbers between 1 and 10. Instead of using a for loop, you can use list comprehension:
even_numbers = [x for x in range(1, 11) if x % 2 == 0] print(even_numbers)
Output:
[2, 4, 6, 8, 10]
2. Take Advantage of Built-in Functions
Python has many built-in functions that can simplify your code and save you time. For example, the enumerate() function can be used to iterate over a list and keep track of the index:
fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
for i, fruit in enumerate(fruits):
print(i, fruit)
Output:
0 apple 1 banana 2 cherry
Similarly, the zip() function can be used to combine two or more lists into a single list of tuples:
names = ['Alice', 'Bob', 'Charlie']
ages = [25, 30, 35]
for name, age in zip(names, ages):
print(name, age)
Output:
Alice 25 Bob 30 Charlie 35
3. Data Structures and Algorithms in Python
- Lists
- Tuples
- Sets
- Dictionaries
4. Modules and Packages
Modules and packages are the building blocks of Python programs. They allow you to organize your code in a logical way, and make it easier for other people to understand what your program does.
To create a module, simply write all of the functions and classes that belong in it inside a file with an extension like .py or .py3k (for Python 3). Then import this file into another file using an import statement:
import my_module
