On this page we'll keep track of the Python types, functions, and operators that we've covered in class. You should also review the online Python References for more complete coverage.
| Mathematical Operators | Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + | addition | 4 + 5 = 9 |
| - | subtraction | 9 - 5 = 4 |
| * | multiplication | 3*5 = 15 |
| / | division | 6/3 = 2 6/4 = 1 6.0/4 = 1.5 |
| % | mod/remainder | 5 % 3 = 2 |
| ** | exponentiation | 3**2 = 9, 2**3 = 8 |
| String Operators | + | concatenation | "ab"+"cd"="abcd" |
| * | repeat | "xo"*3 = "xoxoxo" |
| Comparison Operators | == | is equal to | 3 == 3 is True |
| != | is not equal to | 3 != 3 is False |
| >= | is greater than or equal to | 4 >= 3 is True |
| <= | is less than or equal to | 4 <= 3 is False |
| > | is strictly greater than | 4 > 3 is True |
| < | is strictly less than | 3 < 3 is False |
| Boolean Operators | ||
x=5 | not | flips the value of a bool | (not x == 5) is False |
| and | returns True only if both parts of it are True | (x > 3 and x < 7) is True (x > 3 and x > 7) is False |
| or | returns True if at least one part of it is True | (x < 3 or x > 7) is False (x < 3 or x < 7) is True |
| Type Conversion Functions | ||
| int(x) | turn x into an integer value | int("123") == 123 |
| int can fail, e.g., int("abc") raises an error | ||
| float(x) | turn x into an float value | float("2.46") == 2.46 |
| float can fail, e.g., float("abc") raises an error | ||
| str(x) | turn x into a string value | str(432) == "432" |
| type(x) | the type of x | type(1) ==
int type(1.2) == float |
| String Functions | ||
s="colorful" | Name | Returns | Example |
| .find(str) | index of first occurrence | s.find("o") == 1 |
| s.find("e") == -1 | ||
| .count(str) | number of occurrences | s.count("o") == 2 s.count("r") == 1 s.count("e") == 0 |
| .strip() | copy with leading/trailing whitespace removed | " big ".strip() == "big" |
| .split() | list of "words" in s | "big bad dog".split() == ["big","bad", "dog"] |
| .split(",") | list of "items " in s that are separated
by a comma
In general can split on any string, not just a comma, e.g., s.split(":") will split on a colon and s.split("gat") will split on the string "gat". | "this,old,man".split(",") == ["this", "old", "man"] |
| .startswith(str) | boolean if starts with string | s.startswith("color") == True s.startswith("cool") == False |
| .upper() | uppercase of s | s.upper() == "COLORFUL" |
| .lower() | lowercase of s | "HELLO".lower() == "hello" |
| .capitalize() | capitalized s | s.capitalize() == "Colorful" |
| Miscellaneous Functions | ||
| help(x) | documentation for module x | |
| len(x) | length of sequence x, e.g., String/List | len("duke") == 4 |
| sorted(x) | return list that is sorted version of sequence/iterable x, doesn't change x | sorted("cat") == ['a','c','t'] |
| range(x) | a list of integers starting at 0 and going up to but not including x | range(5) == [0, 1, 2, 3, 4] |
| range(start, stop) | a list of integers starting at start and going up to but not including stop | range(3, 7) == [3, 4, 5, 6] |
| range(start, stop, inc) | a list of integers starting at start and going up to but not including stop with increment inc | range(3, 9, 2) == [3, 5, 7] |
| min(x, y, z) | minimum value of all arguments | min(3, 1, 2) == 1
min("z", "b", "a") == "a" |
| max(x, y, z) | maximum value of all arguments | max(3, 1, 2) == 3
max("z", "b", "a") == "z" |
| abs(x) | absolute value of the int or float x | abs(-33) == 33 abs(-33.5) == 33.5 |
| List Functions | sum(lst) | returns sum of elements in list lst | sum([1,2,4]) == 7 |
| max(lst) | returns maximal element in lst | max([5,3,1,7,2]) == 7 |
| lst.append(...) | append an element to lst, changing lst | [1,2,3].append(8) == [1,2,3,8] |
| lst.sort() | sorts the elements of lst | |
| lst.index(elt) | return index of elt in lst, error if elt not in lst | [1,5,3,8].index(5) == 1 |
| lst.count(elt) | return number of occurrences of elt in lst
| [1,2,1,2,3].count(1) == 2 |
| Math Functions (import math) | ||
| math.pi | 3.1415926535897931 | |
| math.sqrt(num) | returns square root of num as float | math.sqrt(9) == 3.0 |
| Random Functions (import random) | ||
| random.choice(list_of_choices) | returns a random element from list_of_choices. Gives an error if list_of_choices has length 0. | |
| random.randint(start, end) | Returns a random integer between start and end. Unlike range() and list slicing, the largest value it can return is end, not end-1. | |
| random.random() | Returns a random float between 0 and 1. | |