Blog / Python Data Types: A Beginner's Guide

Python Data Types: A Beginner's Guide

by SW Team

In the world of programming, data is the cornerstone on which all applications and algorithms are built. In Python, a popular and versatile programming language, data is handled efficiently and flexibly. However, to get the most out of Python, it is essential to understand the different types of data it offers and how to use them. In this beginner's guide, we will explore the main data types in Python and how to work with them.

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1. Integers (int): Integers are whole numbers with no decimal part. In Python, they can be represented in a direct form, as for example:

x = 10

Basic mathematical operations can also be performed with integers, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

2. Floats (float): Floats are numbers with a decimal part. They can be represented as follows:

y = 3.14

Like integers, mathematical operations can be performed on floats. It is important to note that operations with floating numbers may produce approximate results due to the nature of floating point numbers.

3. Text strings (str): Text strings are sequences of characters enclosed in single or double quotes. For example:

message = "Hello, world!"

Python strings are immutable, meaning that they cannot be modified after they have been created. However, a variety of operations and manipulations can be performed on them, such as concatenation, substring extraction and character search.

4. Booleans (bool): Booleans represent a truth value, i.e. true or false. In Python, booleans are written as True or False. They are mainly used in conditional expressions and loops to control the flow of the program.

rains = True

5. Lists: Lists are ordered collections of items that can be of different data types. They are defined using square brackets and separating the elements by commas. For example:

list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

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Lists are mutable, which means that they can be modified by adding, deleting or modifying items.

6. Tuples: Tuples are similar to lists, but are immutable, meaning that they cannot be modified after they are created. They are defined using parentheses and separating elements by commas. For example:

tuple = (1, 2, 3)

Tuples are useful when you need a collection of elements that should not change, such as geographic coordinates.

7. Sets (set): Sets are unordered collections of unique elements. They are defined using braces and separating the elements by commas. For example:

set = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Sets are useful for removing duplicates from a collection and performing set operations such as union, intersection and difference.

8. Dictionaries: Dictionaries are collections of key-value pairs. Each element of the dictionary has a unique key associated with a value. They are defined using braces and separating key-value pairs by commas. For example:

dictionary = {"nombre": "Juan", "edad": 30, "ciudad": "Madrid"}

Dictionaries are useful for storing structured information and accessing it efficiently using keys.

** Conclusion:**

In this guide, we have explored the main data types in Python and how to work with them. From integers and floats to strings and more complex data structures such as lists, tuples, arrays, and dictionaries, Python offers a wide range of tools for handling data efficiently and effectively. By understanding these data types and how to use them, you will be well equipped to write more powerful and expressive Python programs. Keep exploring and practising to improve your Python programming skills!

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