Python

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its readability and versatility. It was created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991. Python emphasizes clean syntax and code readability, using indentation to define code blocks rather than braces. It supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming.

Python is dynamically typed and uses automatic memory management with a garbage collector. It runs on a wide range of platforms and implements a large standard library; the language also has a vast ecosystem of third-party packages accessible via the Python Package Index (PyPI). The reference implementation is CPython, written in C; there are alternative implementations such as PyPy, Jython, IronPython, and MicroPython. The Python Software Foundation (PSF) oversees Python development and the community around it.

Python's design philosophy emphasizes simplicity and minimal boilerplate, summarized in the batteries-included philosophy, providing modules for common tasks (e.g., file I/O, regular expressions, networking) out of the box. It supports many domains: web development with frameworks like Django and Flask, data analysis and scientific computing (pandas, NumPy, SciPy), machine learning (TensorFlow, PyTorch), automation, scripting, and education.

Python 2 reached end of life in 2020; Python 3 is the ongoing major version with ongoing development and new features through yearly minor releases. The language maintains extensive documentation, tutorials, and a growing ecosystem of tools and environments, including virtual environments and package managers. Its broad adoption spans computer science education, industry, and research, contributing to a large and active community.