Book Image

Python Fundamentals

By : Ryan Marvin, Mark Nganga, Amos Omondi
Book Image

Python Fundamentals

By: Ryan Marvin, Mark Nganga, Amos Omondi

Overview of this book

After a brief history of Python and key differences between Python 2 and Python 3, you'll understand how Python has been used in applications such as YouTube and Google App Engine. As you work with the language, you'll learn about control statements, delve into controlling program flow and gradually work on more structured programs via functions. As you settle into the Python ecosystem, you'll learn about data structures and study ways to correctly store and represent information. By working through specific examples, you'll learn how Python implements object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts of abstraction, encapsulation of data, inheritance, and polymorphism. You'll be given an overview of how imports, modules, and packages work in Python, how you can handle errors to prevent apps from crashing, as well as file manipulation. By the end of this book, you'll have built up an impressive portfolio of projects and armed yourself with the skills you need to tackle Python projects in the real world.

Related Content you might be interested in

Current Title:

Small book image
Python Fundamentals
Ryan Marvin | Mark Nganga | Amos Omondi
Oct, 2018 | 324 pages
Small book image
Learn Python in 7 Days
Bhaskar N Das | Mohit Raj
May, 2017 | 280 pages
Small book image
The Python Apprentice
Austin Bingham | Robert Smallshire
Jun, 2017 | 352 pages
Small book image
Mastering Python Scripting for System Administrators
Ganesh Naik
Jan, 2019 | 318 pages
Table of Contents (12 chapters)
Python Fundamentals
Python Fundamentals
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Introducing Python
Introducing Python
Introduction
Working with the Python Interactive Shell
Writing and Running Simple Scripts
Python Syntax
Variables
User Input, Comments, and Indentations
Summary
2
Data Types
Data Types
Introduction
Numerical Data
Strings
Lists
Booleans
Summary
3
Control Statements
Control Statements
Introduction
Control Statements
The if Statement
The while Statement
while Versus if
Loops
The for Loop
The range Function
Nesting Loops
Breaking Out of Loops
Summary
4
Functions
Functions
Introduction
Built-In Functions
User-Defined Functions
Function Arguments
Anonymous Functions
Summary
5
Lists and Tuples
Lists and Tuples
Introduction
List Syntax
List Methods
List Comprehensions
Tuple Syntax
Accessing Tuple Elements
Accessing Tuple Elements
Tuple Methods
Summary
6
Dictionaries and Sets
Dictionaries and Sets
Introduction
Working with Dictionaries
Additional Dictionary Attributes
Ordered Dictionaries
The Basics of Sets
Set Operations
Frozen Sets
Summary
7
Object-Oriented Programming
Object-Oriented Programming
Introduction
A First Look at OOP
OOP in Python
Methods in a Class
Class Versus Instance Attributes
Class Versus Instance Methods
Class Inheritance
Multiple Inheritance
Summary
8
Modules, Packages, and File Operations
Modules, Packages, and File Operations
Introduction
Defining Modules
Imports and Import Statements
Modules and Packages
File Operations
The file Object
Reading and Writing to Files
Handling Structured Data
Summary
9
Error Handling
Error Handling
Introduction
Built-In Exceptions
Handling Errors and Exceptions
Custom Exceptions
Summary
Appendix A
Appendix A
Chapter 1: Introducing Python
Chapter 2: Data Types
Chapter 3: Control Statements
Chapter 4: Functions
Chapter 5: Lists and Tuples
Chapter 6: Dictionaries and Sets
Chapter 7: Object-Oriented Programming
Chapter 8: Modules, Packages, and File Operations
Chapter 9: Error Handling

The file Object

The file object is the default and easiest way to manipulate files in Python. It includes a couple of methods and attributes which make it easier for developers to read from, and write to, files in the filesystem.

There are two major file object types that are recognized in Python:

  • Binary file objects: These can read and write byte-like objects.

  • Text file objects: These can read and write strings objects.

The open() function, which we will be looking at later, is the easiest way to create a file object. Depending on the mode passed to the open() function, you will get back either a binary or text file object. We will be specifically working with text file objects.

The file Object Methods

The file object has several methods to make it easy to work with the underlying file. They include the following:

  • file.read(): This method loads the entire file into memory.

  • file.readline(): This method reads a single line from the file into memory.

  • file.readlines(): This method reads all of the lines...

Previous Section
End of Section 7
Next Section