Python 3 is a version of the Python programming language. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, Python 3 was the latest major version of Python, and it introduced several significant changes and improvements compared to Python 2. Some key features and differences in Python 3 include:
- Print Statement: In Python 3, the print statement became a print function, meaning you need to use parentheses when printing something. For example:Python 2:pythonCopy code
print "Hello, World!"
Python 3:pythonCopy codeprint("Hello, World!")
- Division: In Python 3, division of integers produces a float result by default. In Python 2, integer division would truncate the result to an integer.Python 3:pythonCopy code
result = 5 / 2 # Results in 2.5
Python 2:pythonCopy coderesult = 5 / 2 # Results in 2
- Unicode: Python 3 handles strings as Unicode by default, whereas Python 2 used ASCII strings. This makes working with non-ASCII characters and internationalization easier in Python 3.
- xrange() Removed: Python 2 had both
range()
andxrange()
for creating sequences of numbers. In Python 3,range()
behaves like Python 2’sxrange()
, so you don’t need to worry about which one to use. - Exception Handling: In Python 3, exceptions must be enclosed in parentheses. For example:Python 2:pythonCopy code
except MyException, e:
Python 3:pythonCopy codeexcept MyException as e:
- Iterable Methods: Python 3 introduced some new built-in functions and methods to work with iterators and iterables, such as
zip()
,map()
, andfilter()
returning iterators instead of lists.
It’s important to note that Python 2 reached its end of life on January 1, 2020, and is no longer actively maintained or updated. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to use Python 3 for all new Python projects.
Please keep in mind that developments in programming languages and their versions may have occurred after my last knowledge update in September 2021, so it’s a good practice to refer to the official Python website or documentation for the most up-to-date information on Python 3 and any subsequent versions.