What are the basic Python data types?

Basic Python Data Types

Python is a versatile programming language that supports a wide range of data types. These data types are the building blocks of any Python program, and understanding them is crucial for writing effective and efficient code. In this answer, we will explore the basic data types in Python and provide examples to help you better understand them.

Numeric Data Types

Python has three main numeric data types:

1. Integers (int): Integers are whole numbers, both positive and negative, including zero. They can be used for tasks such as counting, indexing, and performing mathematical operations. For example:

x = 42
y = -10

2. Floating-Point Numbers (float): Floating-point numbers are used to represent decimal values. They can be used for more precise calculations, such as those involving money or scientific measurements. For example:

x = 3.14
y = -2.5

3. Complex Numbers (complex): Complex numbers are represented as a combination of a real part and an imaginary part. They are often used in fields like electrical engineering and mathematics. For example:

x = 2 + 3j
y = -4 - 2j

Text Data Types

Python has two main text data types:

1. Strings (str): Strings are used to represent text data. They can be enclosed in single quotes ('), double quotes ("), or triple quotes (''' or """). Strings can contain letters, numbers, and special characters. For example:

name = "Alice"
message = 'Hello, world!'

2. Boolean (bool): Booleans are a special type of data that can only have one of two values: True or False. They are often used in conditional statements and logical operations. For example:

is_student = True
is_adult = False

Sequence Data Types

Python has several sequence data types, which are used to store collections of data. The main sequence data types are:

1. Lists (list): Lists are ordered collections of items, which can be of different data types. They are enclosed in square brackets ([]) and items are separated by commas. For example:

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

2. Tuples (tuple): Tuples are similar to lists, but they are immutable, meaning their elements cannot be changed after creation. Tuples are enclosed in parentheses (()). For example:

point = (3, 4)
person = ('Alice', 25, 'engineer')

3. Ranges (range): Ranges are used to represent a sequence of numbers. They are often used in for loops and other iterative operations. For example:

numbers = range(1, 11)  # Represents the numbers 1 through 10

Mapping Data Types

Python has one main mapping data type:

1. Dictionaries (dict): Dictionaries are unordered collections of key-value pairs. They are enclosed in curly braces ({}) and each key-value pair is separated by a colon (:). For example:

person = {
    'name': 'Alice',
    'age': 25,
    'occupation': 'engineer'
}

Set Data Types

Python has one main set data type:

1. Sets (set): Sets are unordered collections of unique elements. They are enclosed in curly braces ({}) and elements are separated by commas. For example:

colors = {'red', 'green', 'blue'}
unique_numbers = {1, 2, 3, 2, 4}  # The duplicate '2' is ignored

Here's a Mermaid diagram that summarizes the basic Python data types:

In summary, Python provides a rich set of data types that allow you to represent and manipulate a wide variety of data. Understanding these data types and their characteristics is crucial for writing effective and efficient Python code.