Teach Yourself VISUALLY Python

A simple, straightforward, and hands-on roadmap to the world of computer programming with Python

Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Python is your personal guide to getting you started in programming. As one of the world's most popular—and most accessible—coding languages, Python is your gateway into the wide and wonderful world of computer science. This hands-on guide walks you through Python step by clearly illustrated step, from writing your very first Python code in a terminal window or the VS Code app through to creating your own lists, dictionaries, and custom classes.

In the book, you’ll learn to:

• Install Python and the tools you need to work with it on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Work with files and folders, manipulate text, and create powerful functions that do exactly what you want
• Write clean code that makes decisions effectively, repeats actions as needed, and handles any errors that occur

A must-have resource for aspiring programmers starting from the very beginning, Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Python is also an indispensable handbook for programmers making a transition from another language.

Chapter 1 Getting Ready to Work with Python

Understanding What Python Is and Does 4

Choose the Right Version of Python 6

Install Python on Windows 8

Install Python on the Mac 12

Install Python on Linux If Necessary 14

Learn About Development Tools for Python 16

Download and Install Visual Studio Code 20

Get Started with Visual Studio Code and Apply a Theme 22

Install Visual Studio Code Extensions for Python 24

Configure Visual Studio Code for Working with Python 26

Chapter 2 Writing and Running Your First Python Code

Understanding the main() Function 30

Create and Save a New Script in Visual Studio Code 32

Write and Run Code in Visual Studio Code 34

Execute Python Commands in a Terminal Window 38

Run a Python Script in a Terminal Window 39

Understanding Comments in Python 40

Add Comments to Your Code 42

Grasp Importing Modules and Objects 44

Import Modules and Use Their Methods 48

Chapter 3 Getting Started with Variables

Understanding Variables and Their Usage 52

Understanding Python’s Data Types 54

Work with Integers 58

Work with Floating‐Point Values 60

Work with Boolean Values 62

Work with Tuples 64

Work with Sets 66

Start Working with Strings 68

Start Working with Lists 70

Start Working with Dictionaries 72

Convert Data from One Type to Another 74

Chapter 4 Working with Files and Directories

Understanding Working with Files and Directories 78

Load the os Module and List Files and Directories 80

Navigate Among Directories 82

Create and Delete Directories 84

Rename, Move, and Copy Files and Directories 88

Get Information About the User and System 92

Split a File Path into Its Components 94

Understanding Python’s open() Function 96

Understanding Python’s Ways of Closing Files 97

Open a File If It Exists; If Not, Create It 98

Check an Open File’s Status and Close It 100

Write Data to a File 102

Open a File for Both Reading and Writing 104

Append Data to a File 106

Read a Text File 108

Chapter 5 Working with Python’s Operators

Meet the Arithmetic Operators 112

Work with the Arithmetic Operators 114

Meet the Assignment Operators 116

Work with the Assignment Operators 117

Meet the Comparison Operators 118

Work with the Comparison Operators 119

Meet the Logical Operators 120

Work with the Logical Operators 121

Meet the Identity Operators 122

Work with the Identity Operators 123

Meet the Membership Operators 124

Work with the Membership Operators 125

Meet the Bitwise Operators 126

Work with the Bitwise Operators 127

Chapter 6 Making Decisions with if Statements

Learn the Essentials of if Statements 130

Understanding the if Statement 132

Create an if Statement 133

Understanding the if else Statement 134

Create an if else Statement 135

Understanding the if elif Statement 136

Create an if elif Statement 137

Understanding the if elif else Statement 138

Create an if elif else Statement 139

Understanding Nested if Statements 140

Create Nested if Statements 141

Chapter 7 Repeating Actions with Loops

Understanding Python’s Loops 144

Understanding How for Loops Work 146

Create for Loops 148

Understanding How while Loops Work 150

Create while Loops 152

Understanding break Statements in Loops 154

Using a break Statement to Exit a Loop Early 155

Understanding continue Statements in Loops 156

Using a continue Statement in a Loop 157

Understanding else Statements in Loops 158

Using an else Statement in a Loop 159

Understanding Loop Nesting 160

Nest Loops to Create Complex Repetition 161

Chapter 8 Working with Functions

Understanding Functions and Their Syntax 164

Understanding Function Parameters and Returns 166

Using Python’s Built‐In Functions 168

Create a Function with Parameters and a Return 172

Create a Function with a Parameter But No Return 173

Create a Function with No Parameters But a Return 174

Create a Function with No Parameters and No Return 176

Create a Function That Returns Multiple Values 177

Create a Function with Optional Parameters 178

Chapter 9 Working with Text

Learn the Essentials of Strings 182

Create Single‐Line Strings 184

Create Multiline Strings 186

Meet Python’s String Methods 188

Return Information About a String 190

Transform and Clean Up a String 192

Return Part of a String via Slicing 194

Concatenate and Repeat Strings 196

Search for One String Inside Another String 198

Check and Change String Capitalization 200

Meet Python’s Tools for Building Strings 204

Build Strings with the Interpolation Operator 210

Build Strings with the .format Method 212

Build Strings with f‐Strings 214

Build Strings with Template Strings 216

Chapter 10 Handling Errors

Understanding the Various Types of Errors 220

Identify Common Python Errors 222

Meet the try except Block 224

Cause Errors and Trap Exceptions 226

Raise an Exception Manually 228

Add an else Block or a finally Block 229

Create Nested try except Blocks 230

Create Custom Exceptions 232

Chapter 11 Working with Lists and Dictionaries

Understanding Lists and Their Use 236

Create a List 238

Meet Python’s List Methods 239

Add Items to a List 240

Remove Items from a List 242

Locate Items and Access Data in a List 244

Sort the Items in a List 246

Understanding Dictionaries and Their Use 248

Create a Dictionary and Return Values 250

Meet Python’s Dictionary Methods 251

Create a Dictionary from an Existing Iterable 252

Add Key/Value Pairs to a Dictionary 254

Remove Key/Value Pairs from a Dictionary 256

Return Keys and Values from a Dictionary 258

Chapter 12 Working with Classes

Understanding Classes and Instances 262

Create a Class and Instantiate Instances 264

Understanding Class and Instance Attributes 266

Set Class and Instance Attributes 268

Grasp Class, Instance, and Static Methods 270

Create an Instance Method 274

Create a Class Method 275

Create a Static Method 276

Review the Class’s Code 277

Index 278

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.