Python Foundations: Writing Simple Scripts & Mastering Basic Data Types

Programming is giving instructions to your computer to solve problems or perform tasks. Python is a widely used, beginner-friendly language suitable for many purposes like data analysis, automation, and creating web applications.

# This is a Python comment.
print("Hello, Python!")

Head to python.org and download the latest version of Python for your operating system. A text editor lets you write code—try Visual Studio Code, Atom, or even Notepad++. The terminal or command prompt helps you run your code files.

# Save this as hello.py
print("Setup complete!")

Write a simple Python file in your editor and save it as hello.py. Open your terminal, navigate to the file’s location, and run it:

# hello.py
print("Congratulations! You ran your first Python script.")

To run: python hello.py

In Python, you assign a value to a variable using the = sign. Variable names should be descriptive so you remember what they store.

name = "Sam"
age = 24
print("Name:", name)
print("Age:", age)

Doing calculations in Python is easy. Use +, -, *, and / for math.

a = 10
b = 3
print(a + b)
print(a - b)
print(a * b)
print(a / b)

A string in Python is text inside quotes. You can combine (concatenate) strings, or find out their length.

greeting = "Hello"
name = "Sam"
message = greeting + ", " + name + "!"
print(message)
print("Length:", len(message))

Lists can store numbers, strings, or any mix. Each item is numbered starting from zero.

groceries = ["apples", "bread", "milk"]
print(groceries[0])
groceries.append("eggs")
print(groceries)

Think of a dictionary as a set of name-value pairs. For example, you might keep track of someone’s contact info.

phonebook = {"Alice": "555-1234", "Bob": "555-5678"}
print(phonebook["Alice"])
phonebook["Eve"] = "555-9999"
print(phonebook)

The if statement lets your code do different things based on logic. Use elif and else for alternatives.

age = 17
if age < 18:
    print("Minor")
elif age == 18:
    print("Just became an adult!")
else:
    print("Adult")

A for loop works with lists. A while loop repeats as long as a condition is true.

# For loop
for i in range(3):
    print("Hello!", i)

# While loop
count = 0
while count < 3:
    print("Counting:", count)
    count += 1

Use input() to get data from the person running your script. Always convert input to the type you need!

name = input("What's your name? ")
age = input("How old are you? ")
print("Hello,", name)
print("You are", age, "years old.")

You’ve learned to write Python scripts, manage data using variables and basic types, make decisions, and loop actions. Keep practicing with small projects—like calculators or text games—and review each concept to strengthen your skills.

Next steps: Try learning about functions (to organize your code), working with files for reading/writing data, and tackling simple projects. As you grow, consider exploring Python’s modules and libraries for data, websites, or automation!