Python Statements and Syntax

NoteWhat is a Python statement?

In his popular book ‘Learning Python,’ Lutz provides a concise and effective description of what a Python statement is:

In simple terms, statements are the things you write to tell Python what your programs should do. If, as suggested [omitted], programs “do things with stuff,” then statements are the way you specify what sort of things a program does. Less informally, Python is a procedural, statement-based language; by combining statements, you specify a procedure Python performs to satisfy a program’s goals.

NoteWhat are the most common Python statements?

Table 4.9 illustrates common Python statements, their role, and application examples. Some of these statements were used in the examples considered so far. Other statements — the majority — will be faced in the next sections of the current chapter and/or the subsequent chapters.

Table 1: Python Statements

Statement	Role	Example
import	Module access	import math
from	Attribute access	from math import sqrt
class	Building ad hoc objects	class Subclass(Superclass): def method(self): pass
del	Deleting references	del a
Assignment	Creating references	a = "before b"
Calls and other expressions	Running functions	file.write("Hello")
print	Printing objects	print("Hello")
if/elif/else	Selecting actions	if "abc" in text: print(text)
for/else	Iteration	for x in mylist: print(x)
while/else	General loops	while X > Y: print("Hello")
pass	Empty placeholder	while True: pass
break	Loop exit	while True: if exit test(): break
continue	Loop continue	while True: if skiptest(): continue
def	Functions and methods	def f(a, b, c=1, *d): print(a+b+c+d[0])
return	Functions results	def f(a, b, c=1, *d): return a+b+c+d[0]
yield	Generator functions	def gen(n): for i in n: yield i*2