DATA 301
Introduction to Data Analytics
Python
Dr. Firas Moosvi
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Slides courtesy of Dr. Ramon Lawrence
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Why learn Python?
Python is increasingly the most popular choice of programming
language for data analysts because it is designed to be simple, efficient,
and easy to read and write.
There are many open source software and libraries that use Python and
data analysis tools built on them.
We will use Python to learn programming and explore fundamental
programming concepts of commands, variables, decisions, repetition,
and events.
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What is Python?
Python is a general, high-level programming language designed for
code readability and simplicity.
Python is available for free as open source and has a large community
supporting its development and associated tools.
Python was developed by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991.
Python 2.0 was released in 2000 (latest version 2.7), and a backwards-
incompatible release Python 3 was in 2008.
• Our coding style will be Python 3 but most code will also work for Python 2.
• Name does refer to Monty Python.
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Python Language Characteristics
Python supports:
• dynamic typing – types can change at run-time
• multi-paradigm – supports procedural, object-oriented, functional styles
• auto-memory management and garbage collection
• extendable – small core language that is easily extendable
Python core philosophies (by Tim Peters: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0020/)
• Beautiful is better than ugly
• Explicit is better than implicit
• Simple is better than complex
• Complex is better than complicated
• Readability counts
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Some Quotes
"If you can't write it down in English, you can't code it."
-- Peter Halpern
"If you lie to the computer, it will get you."
-- Peter Farrar
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Introduction to Programming
An algorithm is a precise sequence of steps to produce a result. A
program is an encoding of an algorithm in a language to solve a
particular problem.
There are numerous languages that programmers can use to specify
instructions. Each language has its different features, benefits, and
usefulness.
The goal is to understand fundamental programming concepts that
apply to all languages.
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Python: Basic Rules
To program in Python you must follow a set of rules for specifying your
commands. This set of rules is called a syntax.
• Just like any other language, there are rules that you must follow if you are to
communicate correctly and precisely.
Important general rules of Python syntax:
• Python is case-sensitive.
• Python is particular on whitespace and indentation.
• The end of command is the end of line. Semi-colon is not a required terminator.
• Use four spaces for indentation whenever in a block.
def spam():
eggs = 12
return eggs
print spam()
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Comments
Comments are used by the programmer to document and explain the
code. Comments are ignored by the computer. Two types:
• 1) One line comment: put “#” before the comment and any characters to the end
of line are ignored by the computer.
• 2) Multiple line comment: put “"""” at the start of the comment and “"""” at
the end of the comment. The computer ignores everything between the start and
end comment indicators.
Example: # Single line comment
print (1) # Comment at end of line
""" This is a
multiple line
comment """
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Python Programming
A Python program, like a book, is read left to right and top to bottom.
Each command is on its own line.
# Sample Python program Flow of Execution
name = "Joe" Start at first statement at
top and proceed down
print("Hello") executing each statement
print("Name: "+name)
A user types in a Python program in a text editor or development
environment and then runs the program.
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Python Editor - jupyter
jupyter is a graphical, browser-based editor for Python.
To create a new notebook, select File, New Notebook, Python3.
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Python Editor – jupyter notebook
Button to run code (shortcut is Ctrl+Enter)
Python code
Program output
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Python: Hello World!
Simplest program:
print("Hello World!")
The print function will print to the terminal (standard output)
whatever data (number, string, variable) it is given.
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Try it: Python Printing
Question 1: Write a Python program that prints "I am fantastic!".
Question 2: Write a Python program that prints these three lines:
I know that I can program in Python.
I am programming right now.
My awesome program has three lines!
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Python Question
Question: How many of the following statements are TRUE?
1) Python is case-sensitive.
2) A command in Python must be terminated by a semi-colon.
3) Indentation does not matter in Python.
4) A single line comment starts with """.
5) The print command prints to standard input.
A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 D) 3 E) 4
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Variables
A variable is a name that refers to a location that stores a data value.
Variable Value (cute cat)
Location Age
18 Value Location
(box)
Variable
petbox (label)
IMPORTANT: The value at a location can change using initialization or
assignment.
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Variable Assignment
Assignment using an = sets the value of a variable.
num
Example:
num = 10 10
message = "Hello world!"
message
Hello world!
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Python Variables
To create a variable in Python, you must only provide a name.
• A variable type is dynamic. It can store numbers, strings, or Boolean at any time.
Example:
val = 5
val = "Hello"
Boolean values can be either True or False. Note case matters.
isAwesome = True
isAwesome = False
