Your First Python Program

Getting Started

In the previous lesson, you installed Python and prepared your development environment. Now we can finally write some code.

Python programs are usually saved in files ending with the .py extension.

Your first line of code

Type the following into your file:

print("Hello, Python!")

Save the file. You have just written your first Python program.

The print() Function

The print() function is one of the first Python functions beginners learn. It displays information in the program's output.

Basic syntax

print(value)

The value inside the parentheses is what Python will send to the output.

Printing text

print("Welcome to PyLearn")

Welcome to PyLearn

Printing a number

print(25)

25

Notice that the number 25 does not need quotation marks. Quotation marks are used when we want Python to treat something as text.

Building Your First Program

Let's create a slightly more meaningful program.

print("My name is Adnan")
print("I am learning Python")
print("Python is powerful")

My name is Adnan
I am learning Python
Python is powerful

Python executes these statements from top to bottom. The first print() runs first, followed by the second and then the third.

Understanding What Your Code Means

Let's examine this simple statement:

print("Hello")

There are two important ideas here.

The parentheses are used to provide information to the function. The value inside them is called an argument.

We will study functions and arguments in much greater depth later in the course.

Text and Strings

Text in Python is represented using a data type called a string.

Strings can be written using single or double quotation marks.

print("Hello")
print('Hello')

Both statements produce the same visible output.

Hello
Hello

Strings can contain spaces

print("Python is easy to learn")

Strings can contain numbers

print("I am 25 years old")

Because the entire value is inside quotation marks, Python treats it as text.

Printing Multiple Values

The print() function can accept multiple values separated by commas.

print("Name:", "Adnan")
print("Age:", 25)
print("City:", "Multan")

Name: Adnan
Age: 25
City: Multan

Python automatically places a space between values passed to print() in this simple case.

Printing calculations

print() can also display the result of an expression.

print(10 + 5)
print(20 * 3)
print(100 / 4)

15
60
25.0

This introduces an important idea: Python can calculate an expression before displaying its result.

Adding Comments

Comments are notes written inside source code for humans. Python does not execute comments as program instructions.

A single-line comment begins with the # symbol.

# This is my first Python program

print("Hello, Python!")

The comment helps explain the code but does not appear in the output.

Comments can explain individual lines

print("Welcome")  # Display a welcome message

Special Characters in Strings

Sometimes you need to place special characters inside a string. Python provides escape sequences for this.

New line

The \n sequence represents a new line.

print("Hello\nPython")

Hello
Python

Tab space

The \t sequence inserts a tab space.

print("Name:\tAdnan")
print("Course:\tPython")

Quotation marks inside strings

print("He said, \"Python is fun!\"")

Escape sequences become much more useful when you start working with text processing. We will revisit strings in depth later.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Making mistakes is a normal part of learning programming. Here are some common problems beginners encounter.

Mistake 1 — Missing quotation marks

print(Hello)

If Hello is intended to be text, it should be written as a string:

print("Hello")

Mistake 2 — Missing a closing parenthesis

print("Hello"

The correct version is:

print("Hello")

Mistake 3 — Incorrect quotation marks

Use matching quotation marks around a string.

print("Hello')

Better:

print("Hello")

Mistake 4 — Saving the wrong file

Make sure your source file is saved with the .py extension. A file named hello.txt is not the same as hello.py.

Practice Exercises

Now practice what you have learned. Try solving these exercises before looking at any solution.

print("Learn Python")
print("Build projects")
print("Become a better programmer")

Mini Challenge: Personal Profile

Let's combine everything you've learned into a small program.

Create a Python program that displays a simple personal profile.

Your program should display:

• Your name
• Your age
• Your city
• Your favorite programming language
• Your learning goal

Example solution

# My personal profile

print("===== My Profile =====")
print("Name: Adnan")
print("Age: 25")
print("City: Multan")
print("Favorite language: Python")
print("Goal: Become a skilled programmer")

===== My Profile =====
Name: Adnan
Age: 25
City: Multan
Favorite language: Python
Goal: Become a skilled programmer

Quick Knowledge Check

Test your understanding before continuing.

Lesson Summary

You have now written your first Python programs. More importantly, you have started learning how Python code is structured and executed.