LAB_Exemplar_PracticeWritingPythonCode
May 8, 2024
1 Exemplar: Practice writing Python code
1.1 Introduction
Python is a programming language that helps in automating instructions to the computer in a
variety of contexts, including security contexts. Writing code in Python is a valuable skill that
helps security analysts thrive in their technical work.
In this lab, you’ll practice writing your first Python code while learning about a notebook environ-
ment. The hands-on practice you engage in throughout the labs will help you apply Python coding
skills to your work as a security analyst. You’ll benefit the most from the labs if you make sure to
not only write in the cells that you’re prompted to fill in, but also analyze all the cells thoroughly.
Tips for completing this lab
As you navigate this lab, keep the following tips in mind:
• ### YOUR CODE HERE ### indicates where you should write code. Be sure to replace this
with your own code before running the code cell.
• Feel free to open the hints for additional guidance as you work on each task.
• To enter your answer to a question, double-click the markdown cell to edit. Be sure to replace
the “[Double-click to enter your responses here.]” with your own answer.
• You can save your work manually by clicking File and then Save in the menu bar at the top
of the notebook.
• You can download your work locally by clicking File and then Download and then specifying
your preferred file format in the menu bar at the top of the notebook.
1.2 Scenario
As a security analyst, you’ll often use notebook environments and notebooks to write and run code.
This lab will help you get familiar with working in a notebook environment, writing code comments
in Python, and displaying strings with the print() function.
In this lab, you’ll complete a series of tasks that involve observing and running some pre-written
cells of text and code, as well as filling in cells with your own text, Python code, and code comments.
1
1.3 Task 1
The lab environment you’re working in is a notebook-based coding environment. Notebooks, such
as this one, consist of two types of cells: (1) text cells, also known as markdown cells, and (2) code
cells.
Markdown cells allow you to write plain text and format it in the markdown language. Markdown
language is used for formatting plain text in text editors and code editors. For example, you can
use markdown to make headers, bold or italicize words, format text as code, add hyperlinks, and
more.
For this task, write something into the following markdown cell. Be sure to replace the “[Double-
click to edit this markdown cell and write something here.]” with your own text. When you have
finished editing, press the Shift and Enter keys (or on some keyboards, the Shift and Return keys)
to display your text.
print(“Hello World!”)
Hint 1
Double-click the markdown cell and replace the placeholder statement with your own. You can
write any statement of your choice.
1.4 Task 2
In Python notebooks, code cells allow you to write code comments and code in Python.
To run a code cell, first place your cursor on the cell. Then, you can either click on the play icon,
or press the Shift and Enter keys (or on some keyboards, the Shift and Return keys).
For this task, run the following code cell as is and observe the output.
[5]: # This cell displays "Hello world!"
print("Hello world!")
Hello world!
Hint 1
Once you click on the code cell, you can run the code by either clicking on the triangular play icon,
or press the Shift and Enter keys (or on some keyboards, the Shift and Return keys).
Question 1 What do you observe about the output after you ran the code cell?
The output shows the statement Hello world! on the screen.
1.5 Task 3
Writing code comments is a way to document the intention behind code. It’s a standard that
analysts commonly use in their workflow. Writing comments that accompany code allows you to
2
keep track of the technical decisions you’ve made in your project. This makes it easier for you and
your team to read and revisit your code in order to understand what it does and why you took
certain approaches.
For this task, run the following code cell as is and observe the output.
[6]: # In Python, comments do not get displayed
# This code cell contains only comments
Hint 1
Once you click on the code cell, you can run the code by either clicking on the triangular play icon,
or press the Shift and Enter keys (or on some keyboards, the Shift and Return keys).
Question 2 What do you observe about the output after you ran the cell above?
There is no output. This is because the code cell above consists of two code comments, each
comment starting with a hash symbol (#). When executing code, Python ignores comments. Code
comments aren’t interpreted by computers; they’re interpreted by analysts.
1.6 Task 4
To type in a code cell, first click into the cell. Then you can write comments and code inside the
cell.
For this task, add a comment at the beginning of the following code cell, describing what the code
is doing. Write the comment to say # This cell displays "I am using Python.". Be sure to
replace the # YOUR COMMENT HERE with your own comment before running the following cell.
[7]: print("I am using Python.")
I am using Python.
Hint 1
Once you click into the code cell, replace the placeholder comment with your comment. Recall that
comments in Python start with the hash symbol (#).
Question 3 What do you observe about the output after you ran the cell above?
The output is I am using Python. Note that the quotes around a string do not appear in the
output when the string is displayed.
1.7 Task 5
In Python, print() helps you to display information to the screen.
For this task, use print() to display the message "I am a security analyst." by placing that
message within the parentheses. Be sure to replace the ### YOUR CODE HERE ### with your own
code before running the following code cell.
3
[8]: # This cell displays "I am a security analyst."
print("I am a security analyst.")
I am a security analyst.
Hint 1
Once you click into the code cell, replace the ### YOUR CODE HERE ### with "I am a security
analyst.".
Question 4 What do you observe about the output after you ran the cell above?
The output is I am a security analyst. Note that the quotes around a string do not appear in
the output when the string is displayed.
1.8 Task 6
For this task, write a print() statement to display the string "Python is useful for
security!" Be sure to replace the ### YOUR CODE HERE ### with your own code before running
the following code cell.
[9]: # This cell displays "Python is useful for security!"
print("Python is useful for security!")
Python is useful for security!
Hint 1
Click into the code cell and use print() to display the message.
Hint 2
Place the message inside the parentheses of print().
Question 5 What do you observe about the output after you ran the cell above?
The output is Python is useful for security! Note that the quotes around a string do not
appear in the output when the string is displayed.
1.9 Task 7
For your final task, you’ll combine all the print() statements you’ve encountered and written in
this lab up to this point, into one code cell.
Complete the following code with the remaining messages. Be sure to replace each ### YOUR CODE
HERE ### with your own code before running the following cell.
4
[10]: # This cell displays all the statements written so far
print("Hello world!")
print("I am using Python.")
print("I am a security analyst.")
print("Python is useful for security!")
Hello world!
I am using Python.
I am a security analyst.
Python is useful for security!
Hint 1
First click into the code cell.
For the third print() statement, place the string "I am a security analyst." inside the paran-
theses of print().
For the fourth print() statement, place the string "Python is useful for security!" inside
the parantheses of print().
Question 6 What do you observe about the output after you ran the cell above?
Each line in the output resulted from a print() statement in the code. Hello world! appears in
the first line of the output, I am using Python. appears on the next line of the output, I am a
security analyst. appears next, and finally Python is useful for security! appears last.
Note that Python interprets and executes code in order, from top to bottom and left to right.
1.10 Conclusion
What are your key takeaways from this lab? - It’s helpful to use code comments to document
the decisions you make as you code. - Code comments are ignored by computers; they’re read by
you and your team to understand the intentions behind the code. - You can write comments in
Python using the hash symbol (#). - You can use print() in Python to display information to the
screen. - When you use print() to display a string, the quotes around the string do not appear in
the output on the screen.
