Python Basics: Introduction to Python

Learning PathSkills: Python 3 Fundamentals, Real-World Projects

Python Basics Video Course Setup Artwork

Through this learning path, you’ll jump-start your Python journey by mastering fundamental concepts for Python beginners. You’ll learn by doing, with the guidance of experienced instructors to support you and fast-track your development.

With this series of video courses, you’ll soon know “enough to be dangerous” with Python. The courses break down the core concepts you really need to know into bite-sized chunks, delivered in plain English.

Python Basics: Introduction to Python

Learning Path ⋅ 13 Resources

Python Basics Video Course Setup Artwork

Course

Python Basics: Setting Up Python

The first step to getting started with Python is to set it up on your machine. In this course, you'll learn how to download Python for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Linux and how to open Python's Integrated Development and Learning Environment, IDLE.

#1
Python Basics: Code Your First Python Program

Course

Python Basics: Code Your First Python Program

In this video course, you'll write your first Python program. Along the way, you'll learn about errors, declare variables and inspect their values, and try your hand at writing comments.

#2
Python Basics: Strings and String Methods

Course

Python Basics: Strings and String Methods

In Python, collections of text are called strings. In this course, you'll learn about this fundamental data type and the string methods that you can use to manipulate strings. Along the way, you'll learn ways to work with strings of numbers, and how to format strings for printing.

#3
Python Basics: Numbers and Math

Course

Python Basics: Numbers and Math

Learn the math that you'll need for your Python programming journey. This includes integers and floating-point numbers, arithmetic operators, and string formatting for numbers.

#4
Python Basics: Functions and Loops

Course

Python Basics: Functions and Loops

In this Python Basics video course, you'll learn how to create user-defined functions that you can execute several times throughout your code. You'll also try your hand at repeating code with for and while loops.

#5
Python Basics: Scopes

Course

Python Basics: Scopes

Learn what scope is and why it's important to coding functions and loops in Python. You'll also get to know the LEGB rule.

#6
Python Basics: Scopes

Interactive Quiz

Python Basics: Scopes

Python Basics: Finding and Fixing Code Bugs

Course

Python Basics: Finding and Fixing Code Bugs

In this Python Basics video course, you'll learn how to identify and fix logic errors, or bugs, in your Python code. You'll use the built-in debugging tools in Python's Integrated Development and Learning Environment to practice locating and resolving bugs in an example function.

#7
Python Basics: Conditional Logic & Control Flow

Course

Python Basics: Conditional Logic and Control Flow

In this Python Basics video course, you'll learn how use conditional logic to write programs that perform different actions based on different conditions. Paired with functions and loops, conditional logic allows you to write complex programs that can handle many different situations.

#8
Python Basics: Dictionaries

Course

Python Basics: Dictionaries

One of the most useful data structures in Python is the dictionary. In this video course, you’ll learn what a dictionary is, how dictionaries differ from lists and tuples, and how to define and use dictionaries in your own code.

#9
Python Basics: Dictionaries

Interactive Quiz

Python Basics: Dictionaries

Python Basics: Object-Oriented Programming

Course

Python Basics: Object-Oriented Programming

In this video course, you'll get to know OOP, or object-oriented programming. You'll learn how to create a class, use classes to create new objects, and instantiate classes with attributes.

#10
Python Basics: Building Systems With Classes

Course

Python Basics: Building Systems With Classes

Learn how to work with classes to build complex systems in Python. By composing classes, inheriting from other classes, and overriding class behavior, you'll harness the power of object-oriented programming (OOP).

#11
Python Basics: File System Operations

Course

Python Basics: File System Operations

Learn how to use the pathlib module to carry out file path operations with Python. These operations include creating, iterating over, searching for, moving, and deleting files and folders.

#12
Python Basics: File System Operations

Course

Python Basics Exercises: File System Operations

In this Python Basics Exercises course, you'll review how to use Python to work with your computer's file system. Then, you'll tackle a coding challenge to further develop your skills.

Python Basics: Installing Packages With pip

Course

Python Basics: Installing Packages With pip

Python's standard library includes a whole buffet of useful packages, but sometimes you need to reach for a third-party library. That's where pip comes in handy. In this video course, you'll learn how to pip install packages.

#13

Got feedback on this learning path?

Looking for real-time conversation? Visit the Real Python Community Chat or join the next “Office Hours” Live Q&A Session. Happy Pythoning!

« Browse All Learning Paths