Python Cheatsheet
Python
Programming
Scripting
Development
Complete reference for Python programming language covering data types, data structures, control flow, functions, object-oriented programming, and modern development practices.
Quick Reference
📊 Data Types & Structures
Basic types, lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries
🔄 Control Flow
Conditionals, loops, and program flow control
⚙️ Functions & Classes
Function definitions and object-oriented programming
🎯 Keywords & Operators
Python keywords, operators, and special syntax
Getting Started
Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose, dynamically typed programming language that emphasizes code readability and simplicity.
Python Basics
Key characteristics
- Interpreted language - No compilation step required
- Object-oriented - Everything is an object in Python
- Dynamically typed - Variables don't need explicit type declarations
- Indentation-based - Uses indentation instead of braces for code blocks
- Cross-platform - Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and more
Running Python programs
Creating and executing a program
Data Types
Python supports several built-in data types that are automatically determined based on the value assigned to variables.
Basic Data Types
Primitive data types
Type checking and conversion
Keywords and Operators
Python 3.8+ has 35 reserved keywords that cannot be used as variable names. Understanding these is essential for proper Python programming.
Python Keywords
Value keywords
Operator keywords
Control flow keywords
Structure keywords
Operators
Arithmetic operators
Comparison operators
Bitwise operators
Assignment operators
Data Structures
Python provides several built-in data structures that are fundamental for organizing and manipulating data efficiently.
Lists
List basics
List operations
List methods
Tuples
Tuple basics
Tuple operations
Sets
Set basics
Set operations
Dictionaries
Dictionary basics
Dictionary operations
Dictionary methods
Control Flow
Control flow statements allow you to control the execution path of your Python programs based on conditions and iterations.
Conditional Statements
Basic conditionals
Advanced conditionals
Loops
While loops
For loops
Nested loops
List comprehensions and generator expressions
Functions
Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks. Python functions are first-class objects and support advanced features like default parameters, variable arguments, and decorators.
Function Definition and Calling
Basic functions
Advanced function features
Function documentation and annotations
Lambda Functions
Lambda expressions
Scope and Global Variables
Variable scope
Object-Oriented Programming
Python supports object-oriented programming with classes, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism. Understanding OOP is crucial for building scalable applications.
Classes and Objects
Basic class definition
Advanced class features
Inheritance
Single inheritance
Multiple inheritance
Exception Handling
Basic exception handling
File Handling and Context Managers
Python provides powerful tools for file operations and resource management through context managers and the with
statement.
File Operations
Reading and writing files
Context managers
Modules and Packages
Importing modules
Creating modules
Best Practices
Follow these Python best practices for writing clean, readable, and maintainable code that follows the Pythonic way.
- Follow PEP 8 style guidelines for consistent code formatting
- Use meaningful variable and function names that clearly express intent
- Write docstrings for all functions, classes, and modules
- Handle exceptions appropriately and use specific exception types
- Use list comprehensions and generator expressions for concise code
- Leverage Python's built-in functions like
enumerate()
,zip()
,any()
,all()
- Use context managers (
with
statements) for resource management - Prefer explicit over implicit - make your code clear and readable
- Don't repeat yourself (DRY) - extract common functionality into functions
- Use virtual environments for project dependency management
Learn More
Explore comprehensive Python documentation and advanced programming concepts
Written by
Deepak Jangra
Created At
Wed Jan 15 2025
Updated At
Fri Jun 13 2025