Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic typing, very high level dynamic data types, and classes. It supports multiple programming paradigms beyond object-oriented programming, such as procedural and functional programming.
Python combines remarkable power with very clear syntax. It has interfaces to many system calls and libraries, as well as to various window systems, and is extensible in C or C++. It is also usable as an extension language for applications that need a programmable interface. Finally, Python is portable: it runs on many Unix variants including Linux and macOS, and on Windows.
Features
- Very clear, readable syntax
- Strong introspection capabilities
- Intuitive object orientation
- Natural expression of procedural code
- Full modularity, supporting hierarchical packages
- Exception-based error handling
- Very high level dynamic data types
- Extensive standard libraries and third party modules for virtually every task
- Extensions and modules easily written in C, C++ (or Java for Jython, or .NET languages for IronPython)
- Embeddable within applications as a scripting interface
Python is powerful... and fast
Fans of Python use the phrase "batteries included" to describe the standard library, which covers everything from asynchronous processing to zip files. The language itself is a flexible powerhouse that can handle practically any problem domain. Build your own web server in three lines of code. Build flexible data-driven code using Python's powerful and dynamic introspection capabilities and advanced language features such as meta-classes, duck typing and decorators.
Python lets you write the code you need, quickly. And, thanks to a highly optimized byte compiler and support libraries, Python code runs more than fast enough for most applications. The traditional implementation of CPython uses a bytecode virtual machine; PyPy supports just-in-time (JIT) compilation to machine code. Also, Jython and IronPython (see below) support JIT compilation on their respective virtual machine implementations.
Python plays well with others
Python can integrate with COM, .NET, and CORBA objects.
For Java libraries, use Jython, an implementation of Python for the Java Virtual Machine.
For .NET, try IronPython , Microsoft's new implementation of Python for .NET, or Python for .NET.
Python is also supported for the Internet Communications Engine (ICE) and many other integration technologies.
If you find something that Python cannot do, or if you need the performance advantage of low-level code, you can write extension modules in C or C++, or wrap existing code with SWIG or Boost.Python. Wrapped modules appear to your program exactly like native Python code. That's language integration made easy. You can also go the opposite route and embed Python in your own application, providing your users with a language they'll enjoy using.
Python runs everywhere
Python is available for all major operating systems: Windows, Linux/Unix, OS/2, Mac, Amiga, among others. There are even versions that run on .NET and the Java virtual machine. You'll be pleased to know that the same source code will run unchanged across all implementations.
Your favorite system isn't listed here? It may still support Python if there's a C compiler for it. Ask around on news:comp.lang.python - or just try compiling Python yourself.
Python is friendly... and easy to learn
The Python newsgroup is known as one of the friendliest around. The avid developer and user community maintains a wiki, hosts international and local conferences, runs development sprints, and contributes to online code repositories.
Python also comes with complete documentation, both integrated into the language and as separate web pages. Online tutorials target both the seasoned programmer and the newcomer. All are designed to make you productive quickly. The availability of first-rate books completes the learning package.
Python is Open
The Python implementation is under an open source license that makes it freely usable and distributable, even for commercial use. The Python license is administered by the Python Software Foundation.
Take a look at application domains where Python is used, or try the current download for yourself.
What's New
Major new features of the 3.15 series, compared to 3.14
Python 3.15 is still in development. This release, 3.15.0a7, is the seventh of eight planned alpha releases.
Alpha releases are intended to make it easier to test the current state of new features and bug fixes and to test the release process.
During the alpha phase, features may be added up until the start of the beta phase (2026-05-05) and, if necessary, may be modified or deleted up until the release candidate phase (2026-07-28). Please keep in mind that this is a preview release and its use is not recommended for production environments.
Many new features for Python 3.15 are still being planned and written. Among the new major new features and changes so far:
- PEP 810: Explicit lazy imports
- PEP 814: frozendict built-in type
- PEP 799: A new high-frequency, low-overhead, statistical sampling profiler and dedicated profiling package
- PEP 798: Unpacking in comprehensions with * and **
- PEP 686: Python now uses UTF-8 as the default encoding
- PEP 728: TypedDict with typed extra items
- PEP 747: Annotating type forms with TypeForm
- PEP 782: A new PyBytesWriter C API to create a Python bytes object
- The JIT compiler has been significantly upgraded, with 3-4% geometric mean performance improvement on x86-64 Linux over the standard interpreter, and 7-8% speedup on AArch64 macOS over the tail-calling interpreter
Improved error messages
(Hey, fellow core team member, if a feature you find important is missing from this list, let Hugo know.)
The next pre-release of Python 3.15 will be 3.15.0a8, currently scheduled for 2026-04-07.
Improved error messages
- (Hey, fellow core developer, if a feature you find important is missing from this list, let Hugo know.)
- The next pre-release of Python 3.15 will be 3.15.0a6, currently scheduled for 2026-02-10.
