(Best)🔥Top 5 Python Tricks and Coding Hacks That Beginners Should Know

We all know that Python is one of the most popular programming languages for developers, because of its simplicity, versatility, and power. As with any programming language, there are always ways to fine tune your coding skills and make your code more efficient.
In this blog, I will tell you the top five Python tricks and coding hacks that you should know as a beginner.

So Lets Get Started!

Use Indentation to Define Code Blocks

Python language uses indentation to explain the code blocks instead of using curly braces or other delimiters. So, that you need to be careful when indenting your code to avoid syntax errors. The standard indentation level is four spaces, but you can also use a single tab or a combination of tabs and spaces. Just make sure that you are consistent throughout your code.

Here's an example of how indentation works in Python:

if x < 0:
    print("x is negative")
else:
    print("x is non-negative")

In this code block, the 'if' statement and the 'else' statement are both indented four spaces, indicating that they are part of the same code block. If you don't indent them correctly, you will get a syntax error.

Use Dictionaries Instead of Switch Statements

In many programming languages, you would use a switch statement to choose between multiple options based on a variable's value. But in Python, it's more common to use a dictionary to achieve the same result. Dictionaries are more concise and easier to read than switch statements.

Here's an example of how to use a dictionary instead of a switch statement in Python:

def choose_option(option):
    options = {
        1: "Option 1",
        2: "Option 2",
        3: "Option 3",
    }
    return options.get(option, "Invalid option")

In this code, the 'choose_option' function takes an integer 'option' as input and returns the corresponding string from the 'options' dictionary. If the input is not one of the keys in the dictionary, it will return the string "Invalid option".

Use List Comprehensions to Create Lists

List comprehensions are a concise way to create lists in Python. They allow you to create a new list by iterating over an existing list and performing a specific operation on each item. For example, you could use list comprehensions to create a list of all even numbers between 1 and 10:

even_numbers = [x for x in range(1, 11) if x % 2 == 0]

It creates a list containing the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. List comprehensions are more concise and easier to read than using a for loop to create a list.

Use the zip() Function to Iterate Over Multiple Lists

If you need to iterate over multiple lists at the same time, you can use the zip() function to combine them into a single iterator. For example, if you have two lists of numbers and you want to find the sum of each corresponding pair, you could use the following code:

list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = [4, 5, 6]
for x, y in zip(list1, list2):
    print(x + y)

This will print the numbers 5, 7, and 9. The zip() function returns an iterator of tuples, where each tuple contains the corresponding elements from each list.

Use the range() Function to Create Loops

The range() function is a convenient way to create loops in Python. It allows you to iterate over a range of numbers, startingfrom a specified start value and ending at a specified stop value (exclusive). You can also specify a step value to control the increment between values. Here's an example:

for i in range(1, 11, 2):
    print(i)

It prints the odd numbers between 1 and 10: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.

These are just a few of the Python tricks and coding hacks that beginners should know. By using these techniques, you can make your code more efficient and effective, and also make it easier to read and maintain. As you continue to learn and develop your Python skills, you will undoubtedly discover many more useful tips and tricks along the way.

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Happy coding!

Comments

[Aidas Petryla]

One more thing worth noticing is looping over a list:

my_list = [10, -5, 8]
for item in my_list:
    print(item)

Edit: on second thought, this might be an easier version on your zip example. :)