Python
The Python computer term refers to a high-level, general-purpose programming language widely used for everything from web development and data analysis to artificial intelligence. The name was inspired by the British comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus, not the snake.
Key characteristics of Python
High-level and readable: Python's syntax is designed for simplicity and readability, mimicking the English language and using indentation instead of brackets to define code blocks. This makes it a popular language for beginners.
Interpreted: Unlike languages that are compiled into machine-readable code before execution, Python code is run directly by an interpreter. This rapid "edit-test-debug" cycle helps speed up development and makes prototyping very fast.
Multi-paradigm: Python is a flexible language that supports multiple programming styles, including object-oriented, procedural, and functional programming.
Dynamically typed: Programmers do not need to explicitly declare variable types, as Python determines the type at runtime. This allows for faster program writing, but can also make it harder to maintain large or complex applications.
Extensive standard library: Python comes with a vast collection of pre-written code modules for various tasks, which helps developers avoid writing code from scratch.
Platform-independent: Python is a cross-platform language, meaning that code written on one operating system, such as macOS, will likely run without changes on another, like Windows or Linux.