What is Python? | Versions | Important for O Level Exam 2025
What is Python?
What is Python?
Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. The Python programming language is developed and promoted by the Python Software Foundation (PSF), a non-profit organization.
Features of Python
- Simple to Use and Learn: Python is beginner-friendly due to its easy-to-understand syntax, which is similar to plain English.
- Powerful and Versatile: Among its many applications are web development, data analysis, automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, scripting, and game creation.
- Numerous Frameworks and Libraries: Python provides robust libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow, Django, Flask, and others.
- Free and Open Source: Through the Python Software Foundation, the community maintains and makes Python freely available.
- Supports a Variety of Paradigms: Python is compatible with procedural, functional, and object-oriented programming approaches.
Limitation of Python
- Reduced Execution Speed: Python is slower than compiled languages like C or C++ since it is an interpreted language.
- High Memory Use: Python could use more memory than other languages, which would make it less appropriate for settings with limited memory.
- Mobile Development: Python is not frequently utilized in the creation of mobile applications. Although there are frameworks like Kivy and BeeWare, they are not as popular as Kotlin (Android) or Swift (iOS).
- Browser: In contrast to JavaScript, Python does not function in browsers. Although there are tools such as Brython, their use and performance are restricted.
- Packaging and Deployment: Compared to languages like Go or Java, Python programs might be more difficult to package and distribute, particularly across platforms.
- Limitations on Database Access: For large-scale corporate applications, Python’s database access layers are not as stable or developed as Java’s JDBC or .NET’s ADO.NET.
Python Versions
Python 1.x
- 1.0, released in January 1994
- 1.3, released in October 1995
- 1.4, released in October 1996
- 1.5, released in December 1997
- 1.6, released in September 2000
Python 2.x
- 2.0, released in October 2000
- 2.1, released in April 2001
- 2.2, released in December 2001
- 2.3, released in July 2003
- 2.4, released in November 2004
- 2.5, released in September 2006
- 2.6, released in October 2008
- 2.7, released in July 2010
Python 3.x
- 3.0, released in December 2008
- 3.1, released in June 2009
- 3.2, released in February 2011
- 3.3, released in September 2012
- 3.4, released in March 2014
- 3.5, released in September 2015
- 3.6, released in December 2016
- 3.7, released in June 2018
- 3.8, released in October 2019
- 3.9, released in October 2020
- 3.10, released in October 2021
- 3.11, released in October 2022
- 3.12, released in October 2023
Python Official Website: https://www.python.org/downloads/
