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 3.14 series, compared to 3.13. Some of the major new features and changes in Python 3.14 are:

New features

  • PEP 779: Free-threaded Python is officially supported
  • PEP 649: The evaluation of annotations is now deferred, improving the semantics of using annotations.
  • PEP 750: Template string literals (t-strings) for custom string processing, using the familiar syntax of f-strings.
  • PEP 734: Multiple interpreters in the stdlib.
  • PEP 784: A new module compression.zstd providing support for the Zstandard compression algorithm.
  • PEP 758: except and except* expressions may now omit the brackets.
  • Syntax highlighting in PyREPL, and support for color in unittest, argparse, json and calendar CLIs.
  • PEP 768: A zero-overhead external debugger interface for CPython.
  • UUID versions 6-8 are now supported by the uuid module, and generation of versions 3-5 are up to 40% faster.
  • PEP 765: Disallow return/break/continue that exit a finally block.
  • PEP 741: An improved C API for configuring Python.
  • A new type of interpreter. For certain newer compilers, this interpreter provides significantly better performance. Opt-in for now, requires building from source.
  • Improved error messages.
  • Builtin implementation of HMAC with formally verified code from the HACL* project.
  • A new command-line interface to inspect running Python processes using asynchronous tasks.
  • The pdb module now supports remote attaching to a running Python process.

For more details on the changes to Python 3.14, see What's new in Python 3.14.

Build changes

  • PEP 761: Python 3.14 and onwards no longer provides PGP signatures for release artifacts. Instead, Sigstore is recommended for verifiers.
  • Official macOS and Windows release binaries include an experimental JIT compiler.
  • Official Android binary releases are now available.
  • Incompatible changes, removals and new deprecations

Incompatible changes

  • Python removals and deprecations
  • C API removals and deprecations
  • Overview of all pending deprecations