What is Python?

Python is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language. Created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991, Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability through its significant use of whitespace.

Brief History

Python was conceived in the late 1980s as a successor to the ABC language. Guido van Rossum wanted a language that was capable of exception handling and interfacing with the Amoeba operating system. The name "Python" comes from "Monty Python's Flying Circus," a BBC comedy series that van Rossum was reading the scripts of at the time.

• 1991: Python 0.9.0 released.
• 2000: Python 2.0 released, adding list comprehensions and garbage collection.
• 2008: Python 3.0 released, a major backwards-incompatible revision.
• 2020: Python 2.7 (and Python 2 execution) officially sunsetted.

Detailed Explanation

Python is dynamically typed and garbage-collected. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including structured (particularly procedural), object-oriented, and functional programming. It is often described as a "batteries included" language due to its comprehensive standard library.

Key Characteristics:

• Interpreted: Code is executed line-by-line, which aids in debugging but can be slower than compiled languages like C++.
• Dynamic Typing: You don't need to declare variable types explicitly; type is determined at runtime.
• High Level: Abstracts away low-level details like memory management (handled by a private heap and garbage collector).
• Cross-Platform: Python runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and many other platforms without changes to the source code.

Today, Python is one of the most popular languages in the world, dominating fields like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Web Development (via Django/Flask), and Automation.