/Doc/tutorial/index.rst

 1.. _tutorial-index:
 2
 3######################
 4  The Python Tutorial
 5######################
 6
 7:Release: |version|
 8:Date: |today|
 9
10Python is an easy to learn, powerful programming language. It has efficient
11high-level data structures and a simple but effective approach to
12object-oriented programming. Python's elegant syntax and dynamic typing,
13together with its interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting
14and rapid application development in many areas on most platforms.
15
16The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are freely available
17in source or binary form for all major platforms from the Python Web site,
18http://www.python.org/, and may be freely distributed. The same site also
19contains distributions of and pointers to many free third party Python modules,
20programs and tools, and additional documentation.
21
22The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data types
23implemented in C or C++ (or other languages callable from C). Python is also
24suitable as an extension language for customizable applications.
25
26This tutorial introduces the reader informally to the basic concepts and
27features of the Python language and system. It helps to have a Python
28interpreter handy for hands-on experience, but all examples are self-contained,
29so the tutorial can be read off-line as well.
30
31For a description of standard objects and modules, see the Python Library
32Reference document. The Python Reference Manual gives a more formal definition
33of the language. To write extensions in C or C++, read Extending and Embedding
34the Python Interpreter and Python/C API Reference. There are also several books
35covering Python in depth.
36
37This tutorial does not attempt to be comprehensive and cover every single
38feature, or even every commonly used feature. Instead, it introduces many of
39Python's most noteworthy features, and will give you a good idea of the
40language's flavor and style. After reading it, you will be able to read and
41write Python modules and programs, and you will be ready to learn more about the
42various Python library modules described in the Python Library Reference.
43
44The :ref:`glossary` is also worth going through.
45
46.. toctree::
47   :numbered:
48
49   appetite.rst
50   interpreter.rst
51   introduction.rst
52   controlflow.rst
53   datastructures.rst
54   modules.rst
55   inputoutput.rst
56   errors.rst
57   classes.rst
58   stdlib.rst
59   stdlib2.rst
60   whatnow.rst
61   interactive.rst
62   floatingpoint.rst