Python Interpreter

Python is an interpreter-based language. In a Linux system, Python's

executable is installed in /usr/bin/ directory. For Windows, the executable
([Link]) is found in the installation folder (for example C:\python311).

This tutorial will teach you How Python Interpreter Works in interactive
and scripted mode. Python code is executed by one statement at a time
method. Python interpreter has two components. The translator checks the
statement for syntax. If found correct, it generates an intermediate byte
code. There is a Python virtual machine which then converts the byte code in
native binary and executes it. The following diagram illustrates the
mechanism:

Python interpreter has an interactive mode and a scripted mode.

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Python Interpreter - Interactive Mode

When launched from a command line terminal without any additional

options, a Python prompt >>> appears and the Python interpreter works on
the principle of REPL (Read, Evaluate, Print, Loop). Each command
entered in front of the Python prompt is read, translated and executed. A
typical interactive session is as follows.

>>> price = 100

>>> qty = 5

>>> total = price*qty

>>> total

500

>>> print ("Total = ", total)

Total = 500
To close the interactive session, enter the end-of-line character (ctrl+D for
Linux and ctrl+Z for Windows). You may also type quit() in front of the
Python prompt and press Enter to return to the OS prompt.

>>> quit()

The interactive shell available with standard Python distribution is not

equipped with features like line editing, history search, auto-completion etc.
You can use other advanced interactive interpreter software such as IPython
and bpython to have additional functionalities.

Python Interpreter - Scripting Mode

Instead of entering and obtaining the result of one instruction at a time as in

the interactive environment, it is possible to save a set of instructions in a
text file, make sure that it has .py extension, and use the name as the
command line parameter for Python command.

Save the following lines as [Link], with the use of any text editor such as
vim on Linux or Notepad on Windows.

print ("My first program")

price = 100

qty = 5

total = price*qty

print ("Total = ", total)

When we execute above program on a Windows machine, it will produce

following result:

C:\Users\Acer>python [Link]

My first program

Total = 500

Note that even though Python executes the entire script in one go, but
internally it is still executed in line by line fashion.

In case of any compiler-based language such as Java, the source code is not
converted in byte code unless the entire code is error-free. In Python, on the
other hand, statements are executed until first occurrence of error is
encountered.

Let us introduce an error purposefully in the above code.

print ("My first program")

price = 100

qty = 5

total = prive*qty #Error in this statement

print ("Total = ", total)

Note the misspelt variable prive instead of price. Try to execute the script
again as before −

C:\Users\Acer>python [Link]

My first program

Traceback (most recent call last):

File "C:\Python311\[Link]", line 4, in <module>

total = prive*qty

^^^^^

NameError: name 'prive' is not defined. Did you mean: 'price'?

Note that the statements before the erroneous statement are executed and
then the error message appears. Thus it is now clear that Python script is
executed in interpreted manner.

Python Interpreter - Using Shebang #!

In addition to executing the Python script as above, the script itself can be a
selfexecutable in Linux, like a shell script. You have to add a shebang line on
top of the script. The shebang indicates which executable is used to interpret
Python statements in the script. Very first line of the script starts with #! And
followed by the path to Python executable.

Modify the [Link] script as follows −

#! /usr/bin/python3.11
print ("My first program")

price = 100

qty = 5

total = price*qty

print ("Total = ", total)

To mark the script as self-executable, use the chmod command

$ chmod +x [Link]

You can now execute the script directly, without using it as a command-line
argument.

$ ./[Link]

Interactive Python - IPython

IPython (stands for Interactive Python) is an enhanced and powerful

interactive environment for Python with many functionalities compared to
the standard Python shell. IPython was originally developed by Fernando
Perez in 2001.

IPython has the following important features −

 IPython's object introspection ability to check properties of an object

during runtime.

 Its syntax highlighting proves to be useful in identifying the language

elements such as keywords, variables etc.

 The history of interactions is internally stored and can be reproduced.

 Tab completion of keywords, variables and function names is one of the

most important features.

 IPython's Magic command system is useful for controlling Python

environment and performing OS tasks.

 It is the main kernel for Jupyter notebook and other front-end tools of
Project Jupyter.

Install IPython with PIP installer utility.

pip3 install ipython

Launch IPython from command-line

C:\Users\Acer>ipython

Python 3.11.2 (tags/v3.11.2:878ead1, Feb 7 2023, [Link]) [MSC v.1934

64 bit (AMD64)] on win32

Type 'copyright', 'credits' or 'license' for more information

IPython 8.4.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python. Type '?' for help.

In [1]:

Instead of the regular >>> prompt as in standard interpreter, you will notice
two major IPython prompts as explained below −

 In[1] appears before any input expression.

 Out[1]appears before the Output appears.

In [1]: price = 100

In [2]: quantity = 5

In [3]: total = price*quantity

In [4]: total

Out[4]: 500

In [5]:

Tab completion is one of the most useful enhancements provided by IPython.

IPython pops up appropriate list of methods as you press tab key after dot in
front of object.

IPython provides information (introspection) of any object by putting ? in

front of it. It includes docstring, function definitions and constructor details
of class. For example to explore the string object var defined above, in the
input prompt enter var?.

In [5]: var = "Hello World"

In [6]: var?

Type: str

String form: Hello World

Length: 11

Docstring:
str(object='') -> str

str(bytes_or_buffer[, encoding[, errors]]) -> str

Create a new string object from the given object. If encoding or

errors is specified, then the object must expose a data buffer

that will be decoded using the given encoding and error handler.

Otherwise, returns the result of object.__str__() (if defined)

or repr(object).

encoding defaults to [Link]().

errors defaults to 'strict'.

IPython's magic functions are extremely powerful. Line magics let you run
DOS commands inside IPython. Let us run the dir command from within
IPython console

In [8]: !dir *.exe

Volume in drive F has no label.

Volume Serial Number is E20D-C4B9

Directory of F:\Python311

07-02-2023 16:55 103,192 [Link]

07-02-2023 16:55 101,656 [Link]

2 File(s) 204,848 bytes

0 Dir(s) 105,260,306,432 bytes free

Jupyter notebook is a web-based interface to programming environments of

Python, Julia, R and many others. For Python, it uses IPython as its main
kernel.

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