In simple terms, Python syntax refers to the set of rules that define how you write and structure your code so that the Python interpreter can understand it.
It is same like grammar rules that are essential to write correct English sentences, syntax rules are essential to write valid Python programs.
If your code doesn’t follow the correct syntax, Python will show an error; this is called a SyntaxError.
Features of Python Syntax
1) Indentation Instead of Braces: Other programming languages like C, C++, or Java use curly braces {} to define code blocks, but Python uses indentation (spaces or tabs) to define them.
For Example:
#Correct Syntax
if True:
print("This line is properly indented!")
print("Python will execute this block.")
#Incorrect Syntax:
if True:
print("This will cause an error!") # Missing indentation
2) Case Sensitivity: Python is a case-sensitive language, which means it treats uppercase and lowercase letters as different.
Example:
name = "John"
Name = "Denny"
print(name) # Output: John
print(Name) # Output: Denny
- Here, both variables look similar, but they are stored in different memory locations.
3) No Need for Semicolons: In Python, you don’t need to end each statement with a semicolon (;). Python automatically detects where a statement ends based on the line break.
Example:
print("Hello, World!") # No semicolon needed
- However, you can use semicolons to write multiple statements on a single line, but it’s not a good habit for clean code. For example:
print("Hello"); print("World") # Works, but not recommended
4) Comments in Python: Comments are parts of your code that Python ignores when executing. They’re useful for explaining logic and making your code understandable for others and also for yourself.
There are two types of comments:
- Single-Line Comment: We can use the # symbol to write a comment on one line.
# This is a single-line comment
print("Comments are ignored by the interpreter.")
- Multi-Line Comments: We can also use the triple quotes (‘ ‘ ‘ or ” ” “) to write comments across multiple lines.
"""
This is a multi-line comment.
You can use it to describe code in detail.
"""
print("Multi-line comment example")
5) Simplicity and Readability: You can easily express our logic and ideas clearly in fewer lines.
Example:
for fruit in ["apple", "banana", "mango"]:
print("I like", fruit)
How To Write Variables and Data Types Easily?
In Python, variables don’t require explicit declaration. You simply assign a value to a variable, and Python determines its type dynamically.
Example:
# Assigning values to variables
x = 10 # Integer
y = 3.14 # Float
name = "John" # String
print(x, y, name)
Output:
10 3.14 John
Input and Output Syntax in Python
Input and output play a major role in every programming language, because you take data from the user (input), process it, and then display the result (output).
Python makes this process extremely simple with two built-in functions: print() for output and input() for user input.
a) Output Using print(): The print() function in Python is used to display messages, variables, or results on the screen. Example:
print("Hello, Python!") # Outputs: Hello, Python!
b) Taking User Input with input(): The input() function allows your program to take data directly from the user.
user_name = input("Enter your name: ")
print("Welcome, " + user_name + "!")
Example Output:
Enter your name: Jimmy
Welcome, Jimmy!
What Is Python Statements?
In Python, a statement is simply an instruction that the interpreter can execute. Statements can be single-line or multi-line, depending on the task.
1) Single-Line Statement: A single-line statement acts on one line. For example:
print("This is a single-line statement.")
Output:
This is a single-line statement.2) Multi-Line Statement: Sometimes a statement is too long to fit on a single line. In such cases, you can break it into multiple lines using a backslash (\) at the end of each line.
total = 10 + 20 + 30 + \
40 + 50
print("The total is:", total)
Output:
The total is: 150
- Here, the backslash tells Python that the statement continues on the next line.
What Is Indentation In Python?
Indentation is not just for readability in Python; it is a mandatory part of the syntax. If you do not use indentation properly, Python will show an IndentationError.
Indentation Rules in Python
1) Use 4 spaces per indentation level – This is the standard followed by most Python developers (as per PEP 8 guidelines). Example:
def greet():
print("Hello!") # 4 spaces before print()
2) Be Consistent – Always use the same number of spaces for each indentation level in your program.
3) Avoid Mixing Tabs and Spaces – Never mix tabs and spaces for indentation in the same file, as it can lead to confusing and hard-to-debug errors.
Why Python Uses Indentation Instead of Braces?
Python’s creator designed it for clean and readable code. Proper indentation naturally forces programmers to write structured and visually organized code
Python Syntax with Conditional Statements
Conditional statements in Python allow your program to make decisions based on specific conditions. These statements help you control the flow of your code, meaning Python can choose what to execute and what to skip depending on certain logical tests.
The conditional logic is implemented using the if, elif, and else keywords. Learn More…
How To Python Syntax In Loops
Python mainly provides two types of loops, the for loop and the while loop.
1) The For Loop: A for loop in Python is used when you want to iterate (loop) through a sequence such as a list, tuple, string, or range of numbers. For example:
for i in range(5):
print(i)
Output:
0
1
2
3
4
2) The While Loop: A while loop runs until a condition remains true.
count = 0
while count < 3:
print(count)
count += 1
Output:
0
1
2