Python Reference Guide

Package/Category Function/Syntax Detailed Explanation Example Output

Python Core print() Prints output to the console print('Hello World') Hello World
Python Core input() Takes input from the user name = input('Enter name: ') User types a value
Python Core len() Returns length of a sequence len([1,2,3]) 3
Python Core type() Returns the type of an object type(5) <class 'int'>
Python Core range() Generates a range of numbers list(range(0,5)) [0,1,2,3,4]
Python Core list.append() Add an item to a list lst = [1,2]; lst.append(3); lst [1,2,3]
Python Core list.extend() Extend list with another list lst = [1,2]; lst.extend([3,4]); lst [1,2,3,4]

Python Core list.pop() Remove and return item at index lst = [1,2,3]; lst.pop() 3
Python Core dict.get() Get value for a key safely d={'a':1}; d.get('a') 1
Python Core dict.items() Return list of key-value pairs d={'a':1,'b':2}; list(d.items()) [('a',1),('b',2)]
Python Core set.add() Add element to a set s={1,2}; s.add(3); s {1,2,3}
Python Core set.union() Return union of two sets {1,2}.union({2,3}) {1,2,3}
Python Core for loop Iterate over items in sequence for i in [1,2,3]: print(i) Prints 1,2,3
Python Core list comprehension Concise way to create lists [x*2 for x in range(3)] [0,2,4]
Python Core def Define a function def add(a,b): return a+b; add(2,3) 5

Python Core *args, **kwargs Pass variable number of arguments def f(*a, **k): print(a,k); f(1,2,x=3) (1,2) {'x':3}
Python Core class Define a class class Dog: pass; d=Dog(); type(d) <class '__main__.Dog'>
class C: def __init__(self,x): self.x=x;
Python Core __init__ Constructor method c=C(5); c.x 5
class C: @property def x(self): return
Python Core @property Define getter like attribute 42; C().x 42

try: 1/0
Python Core try/except Handle exceptions except ZeroDivisionError: print('error') error
Python Core raise Raise an exception raise ValueError('bad') ValueError: bad
f=open('file.txt','w'); f.write('hi');
Python Core open() Open a file f.close() Writes 'hi'

Python Core with open() Context manager for file with open('file.txt') as f: data=f.read() Reads file content
Python Core lambda Create anonymous function f=lambda x:x**2; f(3) 9
Python Core map() Apply function to sequence list(map(lambda x:x*2,[1,2,3])) [2,4,6]
Python Core filter() Filter sequence by function list(filter(lambda x:x>1,[1,2,3])) [2,3]
 Package/Category Function/Syntax Detailed Explanation Example Output
Python Core zip() Combine sequences list(zip([1,2],[3,4])) [(1,3),(2,4)]
Python Core enumerate() Get index and value list(enumerate(['a','b'])) [(0,'a'),(1,'b')]
Python Core import math Import math module import math; math.sqrt(9) 3
import datetime;
Python Core datetime.datetime.now() Get current date and time datetime.datetime.now() Current datetime
Python Core os.listdir() List files in directory import os; os.listdir('.') ['file1','file2']
Python Core sys.argv Command line arguments import sys; print(sys.argv) List of arguments
def deco(f):
def w(): print('start'); f(); print('end');
return w
@deco
def hi(): print('hi')
Python Core decorator Modify function behavior hi() start hi end

Python Core generator Yield values lazily def gen(): yield 1; yield 2; list(gen()) [1,2]
Python Core yield from Delegate part of generator def g(): yield from [1,2,3]; list(g()) [1,2,3]
import asyncio
async def main(): return 42
Python Core async/await Async functions asyncio.run(main()) 42
import threading;
Threading import threading Import threading module print(threading.active_count()) Prints number of active threads
import threading; def worker():
print('Working');
t=threading.Thread(target=worker);
Threading threading.Thread Create and run a new thread t.start(); t.join() Working

lock = threading.Lock(); lock.acquire();

Threading threading.Lock Synchronization primitive for threads # critical section; lock.release() Controls access to shared resources

import asyncio; async def main():

Async async def Define an asynchronous function return 42; print(asyncio.run(main())) 42
async def say_hi(): await
Async await Wait for an async task asyncio.sleep(1); print('hi') Prints 'hi' after delay
Modules import Import a module import math; print(math.sqrt(16)) 4
 Package/Category Function/Syntax Detailed Explanation Example Output

Modules from import Import specific function/class from math import sqrt; print(sqrt(9)) 3

Modules dir() List attributes/methods in module import math; print(dir(math)[:5]) Shows list of attributes

try: x=1/0
Handle errors and execute final except ZeroDivisionError: print('Error') Error
Error Handling try/except/finally block finally: print('Done') Done
Error Handling raise Exception Raise a custom exception raise ValueError('Invalid value') ValueError: Invalid value

Error Handling assert Trigger error if condition false assert 2>1 No output if true, AssertionError if false
import unittest
class T(unittest.TestCase):
def test_add(self):
Testing unittest Unit testing framework self.assertEqual(1+1,2) Test case created
Testing pytest Popular testing framework # in terminal: pytest test_file.py Runs all tests
Testing doctest Test by examples in docstrings import doctest; doctest.testmod() Runs examples in docstrings