Advanced Python: Lesson 1
Foundations, Data Structures, and Functions
Farida Orucova
UFAZ Programming Club
October 18, 2025
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Agenda
1 Course Introduction & Python Overview
2 Python in the Real World
3 Data Types & Variables Deep Dive
4 Container Methods in Action
5 Functions: Beyond the Basics
6 Loop Control: break, continue, pass
7 Summary & Practice
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Welcome to Advanced Python
This isn’t a beginner’s course. We assume you know the basics.
Goal: To think like a Python developer.
Focus on:
Writing idiomatic (Pythonic) code.
Understanding advanced data structures and their trade-offs.
Mastering functions (OOP, decorators, generators come later).
Solving problems efficiently and clearly.
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What Makes Python ”Pythonic”?
The Zen of Python (import this)
Beautiful is better than ugly.
Explicit is better than implicit.
Simple is better than complex.
Readability counts.
...and more!
We will learn to write code that adheres to these principles.
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The Zen of Python
[Link]
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Where is Python Used?
Data Science & AI
Machine Learning: scikit-learn, Automation & Scripting
TensorFlow, PyTorch System Administration
Data Analysis: pandas, NumPy DevOps & CI/CD
Visualization: Matplotlib, File Processing
Seaborn, Plotly Web Scraping
Research & Prototyping
Other Major Areas
Web Development Scientific Computing
Backend: Django, Flask, Game Development (Pygame)
FastAPI Desktop GUI (Tkinter, PyQt)
REST APIs Networking & Security
Microservices Blockchain & Crypto
Content Management
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Why Python Dominates These Fields
Rich Ecosystem: 300,000+ packages
on PyPI
Rapid Development: Write less code, Popular Companies
do more Google
Community Support: Huge, active Netflix
community Instagram
Cross-Platform: Runs everywhere Spotify
Integration: Works with other NASA
languages Dropbox
Readable Syntax: Easy to learn and Uber
maintain
Versatile: From scripts to large systems
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Variables: Names and Objects
Key Concept: In Python, variables are references to objects.
Assignment is like adding a name tag
a = 10 # ’a’ is a name tag on the integer object ‘10‘
b = a # Now ’b’ is another name tag on the same object ‘10
a = 5 # ’a’ is moved to a new object ‘5‘. ’b’ still points
print(b) # Output: 10
This is crucial for understanding mutable vs. immutable types.
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Core Data Types: Immutables
Immutable: Cannot be changed after creation.
int, float, str, bool, tuple
# Integers & Floats
x = 10
y = 3.14
# Strings Why Immutable?
name = "Alice" Safer (can’t be accidentally
# name[0] = ’E’ # ERROR! changed).
Can be used as dictionary keys.
# Booleans
Performance optimizations.
is_valid = True
# Tuples
coords = (4, 5)
# coords[0] = 1 # ERROR!
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Core Data Types: Mutables
Mutable: Can be changed after creation.
list, dict, set
# Lists
my_list = [1, 2, 3]
my_list[0] = 99 # OK
my_list.append(4) Why Mutable?
Efficient for dynamic data.
# Dictionaries Can be modified in-place.
person = {’name’: ’Bob’}
Caution: Be careful with
person[’age’] = 30 # OK
references!
# Sets
unique_nums = {1, 2, 2}
unique_nums.add(3) # OK
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Tricky Question #1: Mutability
What is the output of this code?
list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = list1
[Link](4)
print(list1)
Farida Orucova (UFAZ Programming Club) Advanced Python: Lesson 1 October 18, 2025 11 / 28
Tricky Question #1: Mutability
What is the output of this code?
list1 = [1, 2, 3]
list2 = list1
[Link](4)
print(list1)
Answer
[1, 2, 3, 4]
Explanation: list1 and list2 are references to the same mutable list
object. Changing one affects the other.
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Lists: Your Go-To Mutable Sequence
Essential List Methods
fruits = [’apple’, ’banana’]
[Link](’cherry’) # Add to end: [’apple’, ’banana’,
[Link](1, ’orange’) # Insert: [’apple’, ’orange’, ’ban
[Link](’banana’) # Remove first match: [’apple’, ’o
popped = [Link]() # Remove & return last item: ’cher
[Link]() # In-place sort: [’apple’, ’orange
[Link]() # In-place reverse: [’orange’, ’ap
new_list = [Link]() # Shallow copy (avoids reference i
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Dictionaries: Key-Value Powerhouses
Essential Dictionary Methods
student = {’name’: ’Alice’, ’age’: 24, ’major’: ’CS’}
# Accessing
age = student[’age’] # Get value: 24
name = [Link](’name’) # Safer get: ’Alice’
email = [Link](’email’, ’N/A’) # Get with default: ’N/A’
# Modifying
student[’age’] = 25 # Update
student[’year’] = 3 # Add new key
popped = [Link](’major’) # Remove key & return value: ’CS
# Iterating
for key in student: # Or [Link]()
for value in [Link]():
for key, value in [Link]():
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Sets: Unordered and Unique
Essential Set Operations
setA = {1, 2, 3}
setB = {2, 3, 4}
[Link](4) # Add element: {1, 2, 3, 4}
[Link](1) # Remove, error if not present
[Link](10) # Remove, no error if not present
# Powerful Set Operations
union_set = setA | setB # OR: {1, 2, 3, 4}
intersection_set = setA & setB # AND: {2, 3}
difference_set = setA - setB # In A not B: {1}
sym_diff = setA ^ setB # XOR: {1, 4}
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Tricky Question #2: Set Uniqueness
What will be the length of this set?
my_set = {1, 2, 2, [3, 4]}
print(len(my_set))
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Tricky Question #2: Set Uniqueness
What will be the length of this set?
my_set = {1, 2, 2, [3, 4]}
print(len(my_set))
Answer
TypeError: unhashable type: ’list’
Explanation: Set elements must be immutable (hashable). A list is
mutable and cannot be placed inside a set. Tuples, however, can be.
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Defining Functions: def
Syntax and Components
def function_name(parameter1, parameter2="default"):
"""
Docstring: Describes what the function does.
"""
# Function body
result = parameter1 + parameter2
return result # Returns None if omitted
Parameters vs. Arguments: Parameters are the names in the
definition. Arguments are the actual values passed.
Return: The return statement exits the function and passes back a
value. Without it, the function returns None.
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Argument Types
Positional, Keyword, and Default
def describe_pet(pet_name, animal_type="dog", owner=None):
print(f"{owner}’s {animal_type} is named {pet_name}.")
# Positional arguments (order matters)
describe_pet(’Willie’, ’hamster’)
# Keyword arguments (order doesn’t matter)
describe_pet(animal_type=’cat’, pet_name=’Whiskers’)
# Mixing (positional first, then keyword)
describe_pet(’Fido’, owner=’Alice’) # Uses default for animal_
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Tricky Question #3: The Mutable Default Argument
This is a classic Python pitfall. What’s wrong here?
def add_item(item, my_list=[]):
my_list.append(item)
return my_list
print(add_item(1)) # [1]
print(add_item(2)) # What will this output?
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Tricky Question #3: The Mutable Default Argument
This is a classic Python pitfall. What’s wrong here?
def add_item(item, my_list=[]):
my_list.append(item)
return my_list
print(add_item(1)) # [1]
print(add_item(2)) # What will this output?
Answer
[1, 2]
Explanation: The default list is created only once when the function is
defined. Every subsequent call without a my list argument uses that
same list. The correct pattern is:
def add_item(item, my_list=None):
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Recursion: A Function Calling Itself
Base Case: The condition that stops the recursion.
Recursive Case: The part where the function calls itself with a
modified argument.
Factorial: n! = n * (n-1)!
def factorial(n):
# Base Case
if n == 0 or n == 1:
return 1
# Recursive Case
else:
return n * factorial(n - 1)
print(factorial(5)) # 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 120
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break: Exit the Loop Immediately
Purpose: Completely terminate the loop when a condition is met.
Example: Find first even number
numbers = [1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12]
for num in numbers:
if num % 2 == 0:
print(f"Found first even number: {num}")
break # Exit loop immediately
print(f"Checking {num}")
print("Loop finished")
Output
Checking 1
Checking 3
Checking 5
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continue: Skip to Next Iteration
Purpose: Skip the rest of the current iteration and move to the next one.
Example: Process only odd numbers
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
for num in numbers:
if num % 2 == 0:
continue # Skip even numbers
print(f"Processing odd number: {num}")
# More processing code here...
print("Loop finished")
Output
Processing odd number: 1
Processing odd number: 3
Processing odd number: 5
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pass: The Do-Nothing Statement
Purpose: A placeholder that does nothing. Used when syntax requires a
statement but you don’t want any action.
Common Use Cases
# 1. Placeholder for future code
def calculate_stats(data):
pass # TODO: Implement this later
# 2. Empty class or function
class MyClass:
pass # Minimal class definition
# 3. Empty loop or conditional
for i in range(10):
pass # Do nothing for each iteration
if condition:
pass # Handle this case later
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Tricky Question #4: break vs continue
What’s the difference in output between these two loops?
Loop A: Using break Loop B: Using continue
for i in range(5): for i in range(5):
if i == 3: if i == 3:
break continue
print(i) print(i)
print("Done") print("Done")
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Tricky Question #4: break vs continue
What’s the difference in output between these two loops?
Loop A: Using break Loop B: Using continue
for i in range(5): for i in range(5):
if i == 3: if i == 3:
break continue
print(i) print(i)
print("Done") print("Done")
Answer
Loop A Output: 0 1 2 Done (breaks at 3)
Loop B Output: 0 1 2 4 Done (skips only 3)
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Tricky Question #5: pass vs continue
When would you use pass instead of continue?
Scenario Analysis
# Option A: Using continue
for item in collection:
if not should_process(item):
continue
# 20 lines of complex processing...
process_item(item)
# Option B: Using pass
for item in collection:
if should_process(item):
# TODO: Implement processing logic
pass # Placeholder for future code
else:
log_skipped_item(item)
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Tricky Question #5: pass vs continue
When would you use pass instead of continue?
Scenario Analysis
# Option A: Using continue
for item in collection:
if not should_process(item):
continue
# 20 lines of complex processing...
process_item(item)
# Option B: Using pass
for item in collection:
if should_process(item):
# TODO: Implement processing logic
pass # Placeholder for future code
else:
log_skipped_item(item)
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Loop Control: Summary
When to use each:
break: ”I’m done with this entire loop now”
continue: ”I’m done with this iteration, move to the next one”
pass: ”I need a statement here syntactically, but I don’t want to do
anything”
Real-world analogy:
break: Leaving a party early because you’re tired
continue: Skipping one bad song but staying at the party
pass: Saving a seat for someone who hasn’t arrived yet
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Key Takeaways
Python uses object references; understand mutable vs.
immutable.
Lists are versatile, dicts are fast for lookups, sets enforce uniqueness.
Functions are first-class objects. Beware of mutable default
arguments!
Recursion requires a clear base case.
Loop Control:
break: Exit loop entirely
continue: Skip to next iteration
pass: Placeholder that does nothing
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Homework / Practice Problems
1 List Master: Write a function that takes a list and returns a new list
without duplicates. (Implement this both with and without using a
set).
2 Word Counter: Write a function that takes a string and returns a
dictionary where keys are words and values are the count of those
words. (Punctuation insensitive).
3 Recursive Fibonacci: Implement a function to find the n-th
Fibonacci number using recursion. Bonus: Why is this inefficient?
How could you improve it?
4 Loop Control Practice: Write a loop that processes numbers 1-20,
but:
Uses continue to skip multiples of 3
Uses break to stop if a number greater than 15 is prime
Uses pass as a placeholder for complex prime checking
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Questions?
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