1. What is Python, and Why Is It Popular Among Programmers?
Ans:
Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its clean syntax and readability. It supports various programming paradigms, including object-oriented and functional programming. Its popularity stems from its ease of use, vast standard library, platform independence, and strong community support. Python is widely used in fields like web development, automation, data science, artificial intelligence, and more.
2. What Is PEP 8 and Why Is It Important to Follow?
Ans:
PEP 8 is the official style guide for writing Python code. It outlines coding conventions for better readability and consistency. Adhering to PEP 8 makes code more professional, easier to maintain, and enhances team collaboration by ensuring everyone follows the same coding standards.
3. What Is the Difference Between Lists and Tuples in Python?
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Lists are mutable, meaning their elements can be changed, added, or removed after creation. Tuples, however, are immutable and cannot be modified once created. Lists are ideal when data needs to be dynamic, while tuples are used when the data should remain constant. Both can store multiple data types.
4. How Is Memory Managed in Python?
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Python handles memory automatically using a combination of reference counting and a built-in garbage collector. Memory is managed by storing objects in different generations and cleaning up unused objects to optimize performance. This process ensures efficient use of resources during program execution.
5.What Are Common Built-in Data Types in Python?
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Python offers a wide range of built-in data types, including:
- Numeric types: int, float, complex
- Sequence types: list, tuple, range
- Text type: str
- Set types: set, frozenset
- Mapping type: dict
- Boolean type: bool
6. How Does Python Pass Arguments to Functions?
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Python uses a mechanism known as “call by object reference.” When a mutable object (like a list) is passed to a function, changes made inside the function affect the original object. For immutable types (like strings or integers), changes inside the function don’t impact the original value.
7. What Is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in Python?
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The Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) is a mechanism that allows only one thread to execute Python bytecode at a time, even on multi-core processors. While it simplifies memory management, it limits true parallelism in CPU-bound multi-threaded applications. However, it has minimal impact on I/O-bound tasks.
8. What’s the Difference Between a Module and a Package in Python?
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A module is a single Python file (.py) containing code like functions, classes, or variables. A package is a directory containing multiple modules, along with an init.py file to mark it as a package. Modules help with code reuse, while packages are useful for organizing larger projects.
9. What Are Some Popular Built-in Libraries in Python?
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Python includes many powerful built-in libraries, such as:
- math – for mathematical operations
- datetime – for working with dates and times
- os – for interacting with the operating system
- sys – for system-specific operations
- json – for parsing and generating JSON data
10. How Can You Manage Memory Usage Effectively in Python?
Ans:
To optimize memory usage in Python:
- Avoid creating unnecessary objects
- Use the del statement to remove unwanted variables
- Utilize the gc and tracemalloc modules to monitor memory
- Reuse variables when possible
- Use generators instead of lists for large data processing to reduce memory footprint
