In this section, we will review the programming language Python and also provide some more detailed examples of the ideas from the previous section. If you are new to Python or find that you need more information about any of the topics presented, we recommend that you consult a resource such as the Python Language Reference or a Python Tutorial. Our goal here is to reacquaint you with the language and also reinforce some of the concepts that will be central to later chapters.
Python is a modern, easy-to-learn, object-oriented programming language. It has a powerful set of built-in data types and easy-to-use control constructs. Since Python is an interpreted language, it is most easily reviewed by simply looking at and describing interactive sessions. You should recall that the interpreter displays the familiar >>> prompt and then evaluates the Python construct that you provide. For example,
>>> print("Algorithms and Data Structures")Algorithms and Data Structures>>>
shows the prompt, the print function, the result, and the next prompt.