Improve Your Python With:

Dan’s 🐍 Python Tricks 💌

Get a short & sweet Python Trick delivered to your inbox every couple of days.

🔒 No spam ever. Unsubscribe any time.

🐍 Python Tricks 💌 Get a short & sweet Python Trick delivered to your inbox every couple of days. No spam ever. Unsubscribe any time. Curated by yours truly. Website



x Improve Your Python with a fresh 🐍 Python Trick 💌 every couple of days 🔒 No spam ever. Unsubscribe any time. Website



Q: What’s a Python Trick?

A short Python code snippet meant as a teaching tool. A Python Trick either teaches an aspect of Python with a simple illustration, or serves as a motivating example to dig deeper and develop an intuitive understanding.

Here are a few examples of the kinds of tricks you’ll receive:

# How to merge two dictionaries # in Python 3.5+: >>> x = { 'a' : 1 , 'b' : 2 } >>> y = { 'b' : 3 , 'c' : 4 } >>> z = { ** x , ** y } >>> z { 'c' : 4 , 'a' : 1 , 'b' : 3 } # In Python 2.x you could use this: >>> z = dict ( x , ** y ) >>> z { 'a' : 1 , 'c' : 4 , 'b' : 3 }

# Why Python Is Great: # Function argument unpacking def myfunc ( x , y , z ): print ( x , y , z ) tuple_vec = ( 1 , 0 , 1 ) dict_vec = { 'x' : 1 , 'y' : 0 , 'z' : 1 } >>> myfunc ( * tuple_vec ) 1 , 0 , 1 >>> myfunc ( ** dict_vec ) 1 , 0 , 1

# The lambda keyword in Python provides a # shortcut for declaring small and # anonymous functions: >>> add = lambda x , y : x + y >>> add ( 5 , 3 ) 8 # You could declare the same add() # function with the def keyword: >>> def add ( x , y ): ... return x + y >>> add ( 5 , 3 ) 8 # So what's the big fuss about? # Lambdas are *function expressions*: >>> ( lambda x , y : x + y )( 5 , 3 ) 8 # → Lambda functions are single-expression # functions that are not necessarily bound # to a name (they can be anonymous). # → Lambda functions can't use regular # Python statements and always include an # implicit `return` statement.

Improve Your Python Skills, Bit by Bit:

🐍 Python Tricks 💌 Get a short & sweet Python Trick delivered to your inbox every couple of days. No spam ever. Unsubscribe any time. Curated by yours truly. Website



x Improve Your Python with a fresh 🐍 Python Trick 💌 every couple of days 🔒 No spam ever. Unsubscribe any time. Website



What Python Devs Are Saying:

“Python Tricks” curated by Dan Bader (dbader.org).