Python is a high-level, interpreted, Object oriented programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.
Definition: High-level programming languages are closer to human languages. They are designed to be easy to read, write, and understand.
Examples:
Characteristics:
Use Cases:
Example Code in Python:
print("Hello, World!")
Definition: Low-level programming languages are closer to machine languages. They provide little or no abstraction from the computer's hardware.
Examples:
Characteristics:
Use Cases:
Example Code in Assembly Language:
MOV AX, 1 ADD AX, 2
Aspect | High-Level Languages | Low-Level Languages |
---|---|---|
Abstraction Level | Closer to Human | Closer to hardware |
Ease of Use | Easier to learn and use | More complex and difficult |
Performance | Less efficient, but easier to read, write and maintain | More efficient and faster but difficult to read, write and maintain for human |
Portability | Platform Independent: Programs written in high-level languages can run on different types of computers with little or no modification. | Computer or Processor Specific: Programs written in low-level languages are often specific to a particular type of computer or processor. |
In summary, high-level programming languages are designed to be user-friendly and efficient for development, while low-level programming languages offer greater control and efficiency at the cost of complexity and ease of use.
Python is considered an interpreted programming language because its code is executed by an interpreter, which processes and executes the code line-by-line at runtime rather than converting it into machine code all at once like a compiler.
The most commonly used interpreter for Python is CPython, which is the default and most widely used implementation of the Python programming language. Other popular interpreters include PyPy, Jython, and IronPython.
Aspect | Compiler | Interpreter |
---|---|---|
Translation | Translates the entire program into machine code before execution | Translates and executes the program line-by-line |
Execution Speed | Generally faster execution after compilation | Generally slower execution due to line-by-line translation |
Error Detection | Detects errors during compilation, before execution | Detects errors during runtime, while executing |
Memory Usage | May use more memory for storing the compiled code | May use less memory, as it doesn't store the entire program in machine code |
Example Languages | C, C++, Java | Python, Ruby, JavaScript |
Platform independence means that a software or programming language can run on any operating system or hardware platform without needing any modifications. This capability allows developers to write code once and run it anywhere, regardless of the underlying system.
Python is considered platform independent because its code can be executed on different operating systems (such as Windows, macOS, and Linux) without requiring changes to the source code. This is possible because Python uses an interpreter, which handles the differences between operating systems.
When you write a Python program, it is saved as a .py
file. The Python interpreter then translates the code into a format that the underlying operating system can understand and execute. Since there are Python interpreters available for all major operating systems, the same Python code can run on any of them, making Python platform independent.
Python is considered an object-oriented programming (OOP) language because it supports the principles of object-oriented programming, which include classes and objects, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. These principles allow for the creation of reusable and modular code, making it easier to manage and maintain.
Car
might define properties like color and methods like drive, while an object would be a specific car with those properties and behaviors.print("Hello, World!")
This is a simple Python program that prints the text "Hello, World!" to the screen. Here's a detailed explanation of the code:
When you run this program, the interpreter executes the print
function, and the text "Hello, World!" is displayed on the screen.