The latest articles on DEV Community by Samiksha Srivastav (@samikshasri). https://dev.to/samikshasri https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3912250%2Fbd929b4b-28fa-47fa-8a4c-a1093a1484fc.png https://dev.to/samikshasri en Samiksha Srivastav Mon, 04 May 2026 14:45:53 +0000 https://dev.to/samikshasri/getting-started-with-python-3cnj https://dev.to/samikshasri/getting-started-with-python-3cnj <p>Today I started learning Python, and I explored some fundamental concepts that helped me understand how Python actually works behind the scenes.</p> <h2> What is Python? </h2> <p>Python is a <strong>high-level, interpreted programming language.</strong></p> <ul> <li>Being <strong>high-level</strong> means it is easy to read and write, as it is closer to human language and abstracts away hardware complexity.</li> <li>This makes it very different from low-level languages like <strong>assembly</strong> or <strong>machine language</strong>, which directly interact with hardware.</li> </ul> <h2> Is Python Really Interpreted? </h2> <p>We often hear that Python is an interpreted language, but there is a bit more to it.</p> <p>Python actually works in two main steps:</p> <ol> <li><p><strong>Compilation to Bytecode</strong><br> First, Python converts your code into an intermediate format called <strong>bytecode.</strong></p></li> <li><p><strong>Execution using Python Virtual Machine (PVM)</strong><br> This bytecode is then executed by the <strong>Python Virtual Machine (PVM.)</strong></p></li> </ol> <p>This process is what makes Python both flexible and easy to debug.</p> <h2> What is <strong>pycache</strong>? </h2> <p>While running Python programs, you might notice a folder named <strong>pycache</strong>.</p> <ul> <li>It stores compiled <strong>bytecode files(.pyc)</strong> </li> <li>These files help Python run faster when the program is executed again </li> <li>This process is usually automatic and hidden from developers </li> </ul> <h2> Key Takeaways </h2> <ul> <li>Python is <strong>easy to read and beginner-friendly</strong> </li> <li>It is <strong>interpreted but internally uses bytecode</strong> </li> <li>Execution happens through the Python Virtual Machine (PVM)</li> <li> <strong>pycache</strong> improves performance by storing compiled code</li> </ul> <h2> Final Thoughts </h2> <p>Understanding what happens behind the scenes makes learning Python much more interesting. This is just the beginning of my journey, and I'm excited to explore more.</p> <p>Follow my journey as I continue learning and building in Python!</p> python programming learninpublic