Python is a scripting language, created by Guido van Rossum in 1991, which is used in various applications, such as game development, GIS programming, software development, web development, data analytics, machine learning, and system scripting.

Python is an object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Mainly, Python is an interpreted language. Python is used for rapid application development, as it has all of the advanced features for development.

Python is simple and easy to learn, as its syntax makes programs more readable. Hence, the program maintenance cost is low.

Python has one more important feature of importing modules and packages. This feature allows for code reuse. The Python interpreter is easy to understand. We can write the complete code one by one in it and, as Python is an interpreted language, the code gets executed line by line. Python also has a wide range of libraries for advanced functionality.

This chapter will cover the following topics:

• Python scripting
• Installing and using Python and various tools
• Variables, numbers, and strings
• Python supported data structures and how to use all of these concepts in a script
• Decision making; that is, the if statement
• Looping statements; that is, the for and while loops
• Functions
• Modules