You may be considering a career in software development and have discovered that Python knowledge is a prerequisite for many of the jobs you’re coming across.
That’s no surprise. In 2020, about 29.9% of all programming language tutorials searched for on Google were for Python, making it a far more popular programming language than Java, which came in second with 19.1% of all searches.¹
If you’re a beginner and just getting started with learning Python, don’t fret.
Python is widely considered a simple and easy language to learn, and our online courses can help you become a Python expert in no time. Not to mention that the language has a wide range of industry applications, so you’d be able to capitalize on your new skills pretty quickly.
Let’s take a look at the different applications of Python and why the language is so popular among beginner and veteran programmers alike. Blockchain, in particular, has taken the world by storm, which is why we’ve developed a dedicated Python course looking at its increasing application in blockchain development. Read on to find out more.
What Is Python?
Created by the Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum in 1991, Python is a dynamic, open-source, interpreted programming language that uses a simple syntax to execute commands. The origin of the name is far less mysterious than you may think. When Guido was working on the language, he was also reading a script of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a comedy series from the 1970s, and opted for Python as a short and unique name for his programming language.²
Unlike Java, C++, and other programming languages which require compilation before they run (i.e. the source code has to be converted into an executable program the computer understands), Python programs run without any code compilation. Likewise, Python supports multiple programming paradigms (i.e. different ways in which a given program can be organized), like object-oriented (OOP), procedural, and functional programming, making it super versatile and easy to work with. In contrast, Java and C++ are static languages that don’t support free procedures and have a high entry threshold before you can start coding with them.
What Is Python Used For?
Due to its simplicity and flexibility, Python is finding ever-increasing applications in business. Rather than relying on an endless stream of curly brackets, Python uses clean space as a way to separate code lines and relies on an easy-to-understand syntax to develop applications. The language, therefore, has found wide use in game development and mathematical applications as well as user experience (UX) and web app design. Some of the major companies like Google, Netflix, and Spotify all use Python in their applications and have helped make the language more mainstream.
Some of the most common Python applications today include: