Python for beginners 14 minGrades 6–8· Ages 11–14

Your first Python programs

Make the computer talk with print, leave notes with comments and meet your first error message.

Lesson 1 of 15 in Python for beginners

Jump to section9 sections

1Key ideas
2The big idea
3Let's explore
4Try it yourself
5Watch out!
6In real life
7Watch it explained
8Words to know
9Check your understanding

The big idea

A program is a list of instructions for a computer. Python is a programming language: a way of writing those instructions that both you and the computer can read. It was first released in 1991 by Guido van Rossum, and it is now one of the most popular languages in the world. Scientists, game makers, web developers and AI researchers all use it.

To write Python you need an editor, a program for typing and running code. Good free choices are Thonny and IDLE (which comes with Python), or an online Python editor. You type your program, press Run, and the result appears in the shell (the output window).

Let's explore

Your first instruction is print(). It shows whatever is inside the brackets.

Python

print("Hello, world!")
print("My name is Python.")
print("I can count:", 1, 2, 3)

Output

Hello, world!
My name is Python.
I can count: 1 2 3

Text inside quotes is called a string. Python prints it exactly as written. Commas let you print several things on one line, and Python puts a space between them.

Watch it explained

Python Print Function: Visually Explained | #Python Course 4

Data with Baraa

print Function | Python Tutorial

Portfolio Courses

Find more videos on YouTube

Words to know

Practise as flashcards →

Program: A list of instructions that a computer follows in order.
String: A piece of text. In Python it goes inside quotes, like "Hello".
Comment: A note in the code that starts with
Syntax error: A mistake in the grammar of the code, such as a missing quote or bracket, which stops the program running.
Shell: The window where a program's output appears.

Check your understanding

3 questions · 0 answered

1.
What does this line print? print("4 * 2")
2.
Which line will cause an error?
3.
What happens to a line that starts with

Answer every question to check.

That was a free sample. The rest is for schools on RudimentaryLabs.

Next up: Variables and data types, one of 14 more lessons in Python for beginners.

Join with a school invite I already have an account

Your first Python programs

Make the computer talk with print, leave notes with comments and meet your first error message.

Lesson 1 of 15 in Python for beginners

The big idea

Let's explore

Your first instruction is print(). It shows whatever is inside the brackets.

Python

print("Hello, world!")
print("My name is Python.")
print("I can count:", 1, 2, 3)

Output

Hello, world!
My name is Python.
I can count: 1 2 3

Text inside quotes is called a string. Python prints it exactly as written. Commas let you print several things on one line, and Python puts a space between them.

Watch it explained

Python Print Function: Visually Explained | #Python Course 4

Data with Baraa

print Function | Python Tutorial

Portfolio Courses

Find more videos on YouTube

Words to know

Practise as flashcards →

Program: A list of instructions that a computer follows in order.
String: A piece of text. In Python it goes inside quotes, like "Hello".
Comment: A note in the code that starts with
Syntax error: A mistake in the grammar of the code, such as a missing quote or bracket, which stops the program running.
Shell: The window where a program's output appears.

Check your understanding

3 questions · 0 answered

1.
What does this line print? print("4 * 2")
2.
Which line will cause an error?
3.
What happens to a line that starts with

Answer every question to check.

That was a free sample. The rest is for schools on RudimentaryLabs.

Next up: Variables and data types, one of 14 more lessons in Python for beginners.

Join with a school invite I already have an account

Your first Python programs

The big idea

Let's explore

Watch it explained

Words to know

Check your understanding

print("Good morning")

Your first Python programs

The big idea

Let's explore

Watch it explained

Words to know

Check your understanding

print("Good morning")

Try it yourself

Watch out!

In real life