Python Hello World: A Beginner’s Guide to Programming

Running Your First Python Program: Print “Hello World!”

The first step in learning any programming language is often to print "Hello World!" This tradition helps you understand the language's basic syntax and structure. In Python, this is done using the print() function.

Using the print() function

The print() function is one of the most frequently used functions in Python. It outputs text. Let's see it in action:

print("Hello World!")

When you run this line of code, Python will output:

Hello World!

Running Your First Python Program: Print “Hello World!”

While running Python code in an IDE is convenient, you can also create a script file and run it. This is useful for saving and running larger programs. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open a text editor (like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on MacOS).

2. Type the following code:

print("Hello World!")

3. Save the file with a .py extension, for example, hello_world.py.

4. Open your command line interface (CLI) or terminal. On Windows computers, press the Windows key, type "Command Prompt," and hit Enter. This will open the Command Prompt (CLI). For macOS, press Command + Space, type "Terminal," and hit Enter. This will open the Terminal application.

5. In the command line, use the cd command (short for "change directory") to navigate to the folder where you saved your file. For example, if you saved your file on the Desktop, you would type:

cd Desktop

6. Run the script by typing:

python hello_world.py

Congratulations! You've just run your first Python script.

Bonus: Creating a Function that Prints “Hello World!”

One of the beauties of Python, and programming in general, is the ability to create systems that automate tasks. Functions are the building blocks of these systems in Python. A function is a reusable block of code that performs a specific task.

Let's create a function that takes a person's name as an argument and prints a personalized greeting.

def print_hello_world(name):
    print("Hello", name, "!")

# Calling the function
print_hello_world("Alice")

Hello Alice !

In this code:

1. def is a keyword that tells Python we are defining a function.
2. print_hello_world is the name of our function.
3. name inside the parentheses is a parameter—a variable that the function can receive as input.
4. print(“Hello”, name, “!”) is the function's action. Here, we use commas to separate between the different elements of the print statement.

For more on functions, check out this interactive course on Writing Functions in Python from scratch, where you’ll build Python functions right in the browser!

How to Learn Python

Learning Python is an exciting journey that opens up many possibilities in the programming world. Here are some steps and resources to help you get started:

1. Start with the basics: Learn the basic syntax and structure of Python. Understand variables, data types, and simple operations.
2. Practice coding: The best way to learn programming is by doing. Write small programs, experiment with different functions, and try to solve simple problems.
3. Use online resources: There are numerous free and paid resources available online. Check out DataCamp’s Python curriculum for more!
4. Read Python documentation: Familiarize yourself with the official Python documentation. It’s a comprehensive resource for understanding Python's capabilities and features.
5. Join a community: Engage with other learners and experienced developers. Communities like Stack Overflow, Reddit’s r/learnpython, and Python Discord servers are great places to ask questions, share knowledge, and get support.
6. Build projects: Apply what you've learned by working on small projects. This could be anything from a simple calculator to a web scraper. Projects help solidify your knowledge and provide practical experience.
7. Explore advanced topics: Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore more advanced topics like object-oriented programming, web development with frameworks like Django or Flask, and data analysis with libraries like Pandas and NumPy.

For more detailed guidance, read our comprehensive guide on how to learn Python from scratch.

Get Started with Python

Now that you've written your first Python program and created a function, you’ve taken the first step to mastering this powerful language. Keep experimenting with Python, try out new ideas, and don't hesitate to explore more advanced topics as you grow more comfortable.

Start your Python learning journey today, and happy coding!