You may have heard that Python is one of the most popular programming languages. Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024Python has been named the most popular language among people learning to code. But why is it so popular? What is it used for?
Python is a general-purpose programming language used in almost every type of software imaginable. It can be used to build websites, AI, servers, business software, and more.
Below we’ll explain some of the reasons why Python is so popular and its uses and applications in different fields, or if you want to get started right away, check out our Python 3 learning path.
What is Python?
Python is a high-level programming language known for its readability and versatility, and is used in a variety of fields including web development, data science, AI, and automation.
What are the advantages of Python?
Python has many advantages that make it a favorite among amateur and professional programmers alike, one of the biggest being its (relative) simplicity: Python’s syntax is similar to English, making it easy to learn and read, and unlike other languages, it uses simple line breaks rather than symbols to define code blocks.
Python also helps speed up development with built-in classes, functions, and a rich library that makes writing code faster and easier. Additionally, because it is an interpreted language, you can run and test your code immediately after writing it, without an intermediate compilation process.
Another advantage Python has over other languages is its versatility: it is a portable, cross-platform language, which means you can write and run Python code on any operating system that has a Python interpreter, whereas other languages require you to modify your code for each platform.
Python Code Example
Below is an example of Python code to calculate the factorial of a number.
# Function to calculate the factorial of a number
def calculate_factorial(n):
result = 1
for i in range(1, n + 1):
result *= i
return result
# Example usage
number = 5
factorial = calculate_factorial(number)
print(f"The factorial of {number} is {factorial}")
What is Python used for?
Python is versatile enough to be used in a wide range of applications across industries. Let’s look at some of the ways you can use Python.
Data Science: Analysis and Visualization
Data science is one of the most popular uses of Python. Data scientists and analysts use the programming language for: Python and R Manipulate data for reporting, predictive analytics, and more. R is a great option, but many data scientists prefer to learn Python because its English-like syntax is easier to learn. If you want to learn how to use Python to manipulate data, check out our free course, Introduction to Python for Data Science.
Gaining insights from data is not an easy task. Data scientists can’t afford to waste time on compilation and complex syntax. Python’s simple syntax and large selection of third-party libraries make it a great choice for anyone considering a career in data science.
Check out our expert walkthroughs of Python data science projects.
Machine Learning
Machine learning can be described as a subfield of data science, but with its own algorithms it deserves its own category. With machine learning, we train systems to learn independently, using algorithms that are constantly updated based on input data. These systems gradually learn how to deal with new situations by generating outputs based on past datasets. Then, based on the results of this new situation, they update themselves to deal with new variables, constantly evolving.
Web Development: Websites and Web Apps
Python is also widely used for back-end development, running on a web application’s server and interacting with databases and APIs after a user requests data from the app’s front-end in a browser.
Python’s popularity in web development comes from frameworks and libraries such as Django and Flask that extend the usefulness of the language.
Financial Analysis
in Recent HackerRank SurveyPython has been the number one programming language for FinTech companies when hiring developers, but it’s not just FinTech companies that use Python code: Python is used throughout the financial industry due to its data processing capabilities and the wide range of third-party libraries designed for financial analysis.
Desktop application
You can also use Python to build desktop applications. Many Linux and open source desktop applications use Python. Additionally, with GUI libraries such as Tk, wxWidgets, and Qt, you can use Python to build cross-platform applications that run on Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Business Applications
Python is at the core of business software such as Tryton and Odoo. These tools are used for enterprise development and can perform tasks such as accounting, inventory, and customer relationship management.
This means that many businesses rely on Python to do the heavy lifting, and because of its ease of use and scalability, more and more startups are adopting it into their tech stack.
Scripts and Utility Software
Python started out as a language for writing utility scripts and is still widely used for this purpose today: many of the utilities and scripts built into the Linux operating system are written in Python, and it’s also installed by default on Mac OS, making it the perfect language for automating tasks in an engineer’s everyday work.
Is Python hard to learn?
Python is considered one of the easier programming languages to learn due to its simple and easy-to-read syntax. Python developer Guido Van Rossum specifically designed the syntax to make it easy for beginners to pick up new programming ideas. In addition, Python has a rich set of pre-built libraries, tools, and frameworks that allow you to tackle more complex tasks faster using the language. Many beginners find Python approachable and easy to use to start their programming journey. Learn more about how to choose your first programming language here.
How long does it take to learn Python?
Learning Python can take anywhere from a few months to a year. This depends on your previous programming experience and the amount of time you can dedicate to learning. The great thing about our courses and paths is that you decide how much, how often, and at what pace you study. You can stop and take a break when you need to, or ramp up your learning routine when you have the time. Regular practice and building projects will help you learn Python more efficiently. To roughly estimate how much time you’ll spend learning, first determine your goals.
How to learn Python
Learning Python requires understanding syntax, basic data structures, and libraries. You can try your hand at writing Python code and building projects with our Learn Python 3 course. This course is beginner-friendly and popular among our learners. If you want to learn a specific area of Python, such as data science, we have Python courses that teach you the language and how to apply your skills to data scenarios. Once you’ve mastered the programming concepts, it’s time to start building projects. Our library has lots of real-world Python projects suitable for all levels, some of which you can even include in your professional portfolio.
Get started with Python
As you can see, Python is a programming language that can be used for a wide range of purposes, including web development, data science, and financial analysis.
Want to get started for yourself? Learn Python 3 teaches you the basics of Python programming. And if you want to take it a step further, we’ll show you how to:
For a complete list of Python courses, see our catalog page. For supplemental study, consider reading a Python programming book for beginners.
Whether you’re looking to enter a new career, develop technical skills, or just write code for fun, we’re here to help you every step of the way. How to Choose the Best Codecademy Plan for You Learn more about our structured courses, professional certifications, interview preparation resources, career services, and more.
This blog was originally published in May 2021 and has been updated with new research, courses, and resources.
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