For this class, you should know Python. In particular, you should know all about the basic building blocks and concepts of this programming language as summarized below. Each section has a link to a longer page (with exercises) that you can use for review.

Table of contents

1. Python interpreter and the first program
2. Variables, expressions, data types
3. Flow Control
4. Functions
5. Modules and Packages
6. Objects

Python interpreter and the first program

See Hello World to review:

• using the python and ipython interpreter
• writing a Python program with your editor
• executing a Python program from the command line

  python program.py
  

Variables, expressions, data types

See Variables, expressions, data types to review:

• comments in Python (#)
• variables and assignments
  • naming
  • assignment operator =
  • outputting values with print()
  • dynamic typing
• simple variable types
  • numeric types: int, float, complex
  • text sequence (string): str
  • boolean values True and False, truthiness in Python
  • None-data type: None
  • casting (type conversion)
• expressions
  • operators
  • precedence
• container data types (with len())
  • lists list(), [1, 2, ...]
    • indexing a[3], a[-1] (zero-based!)
    • slicing a[start:stop], a[start:stop:step]
    • mutable
  • tuples tuple(), (1, 2, ...), 1, 2, ... (at least one comma)
    • indexing
    • slicing
    • immutable
    • tuple assignment a, b = -2, 3
  • dictionaries dict(), {key: value, key: value, ...}
    • item access d[key] --> value
    • no order
    • mutable

Flow Control

See Flow Control to review:

• code blocks, indentation, and white space
• loops
  • for loop
    • iteration over sequences for x in ["one", "two", "three"]:
    • iterating with range(): for x in range(10):
    • list comprehensions: squares = [x*x for x in range(10)]
  • while loop: while <expression>:
  • loop control with break and continue
• conditional: if <expression> ... elif <expression> ... else

Functions

See Functions to review:

• defining a function (def f(...))
  • return value
  • doc string
  • arguments
  • keyword arguments (with default values)
• calling a function value = f(...)

Modules and Packages

See Modules and Packages to review.

Objects

See Objects to review.