Introduction to Python

Introduction to Python

Duration: 3 Days

Description

Python’s reputation as an easy first language is well earned, but it’s also one of the most heavily used languages in production software, data pipelines, and automation tooling — which is exactly why it’s usually the first stop for developers broadening their skill set. This three-day course builds that foundation methodically: starting with syntax, data types, and control structures, then moving into the collections (lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets) that make Python code so compact, and finishing with functions and object-oriented programming so participants leave able to structure real programs, not just write isolated scripts. Every module pairs lecture with hands-on labs, and the final two modules on custom modules and exception handling are the pieces most self-taught learners skip and later regret — they’re what separates a script that works on your machine from code you can hand to a teammate.

Audience

This course is built for developers, not hobbyists — though no prior Python experience is assumed. The benefit compounds depending on where you’re coming from: developers adding Python as a second or third language get a language that reads closer to pseudocode than anything they’ve used before, which shortens the gap between “idea” and “working prototype.” Developers whose roles are drifting toward automation, scripting, or internal tooling get a language built for exactly that. And developers eyeing the broader Python ecosystem — data work, testing, AI development — get the one prerequisite nearly every advanced Python course and every Python certification path assumes you already have. This course is that prerequisite, taught properly rather than picked up piecemeal from tutorials.

Objectives

  • Develop Python applications by utilizing built-in functions and data structures
  • Apply object-oriented principles to structure your code, incorporating modules and classes
  • Demonstrate proficiency in working with functions and collections through practical exercises
  • Utilize external libraries to extend functionalities and manage various data formats effectively
  • Handle exceptions in Python efficiently and effectively

Prerequisites

This course requires basic knowledge in a procedural or object-oriented language (e.g., C, C++, Java, or SQL), understanding of fundamental programming concepts (such as variables and loops), and prior use of a text editor or IDE for coding.

Related Python Courses

See the full Python training roadmap and course directory for how this fits into a broader learning path.

Ready to go further? PCEP Python Introduction covers similar ground with a certification exam attached, and PCAP Intermediate Python is the natural next step once fundamentals are solid. Developers coming from another language may prefer the faster-paced Python for Engineers instead. Heading toward AI or data work afterward? See Python Foundations and Python OpenAI API for Developers.

Course Outline

Module 1: Python Introduction

  • Background, Uses, and Characteristics
  • Syntax and Writing Basic Code
  • Data Types, Variables, and Operators

Module 2: Control Structures

  • Conditional Statements
  • Bitwise Operators and Loops

Module 3: Collections

  • Lists, Tuples, Dictionaries, and Sets
  • Sorting and Copying Collections
  • Membership Testing
  • List Comprehensions

Module 4: Functions

  • Creating a Function
  • Recursion
  • Lambda Functions
  • Higher Order Functions

Module 5: Object-Oriented Programming

  • Basic OOP Concepts
  • Creating Classes and Instantiating Objects
  • Instance Methods
  • Inheritance and Subclassing

Module 6: Modules

  • Creating a Module
  • Built-In Modules

Module 7: Exceptions

  • Exception Handling
  • Raising an Exception
  • Custom Exception Classes