5 tips to write better Python code

Anyone who wants to write better Python code should know about the benefits of writing code that is easier to read and understand. For one, code that is easier to read is also easier to debug. Secondly, well-written code can be reused more easily. Third, clear and concise code is less likely to contain errors. Finally, well-written Python code can make you more productive overall.

Python is a great language for beginners and experienced developers alike. Here are 5 tips to write better Python code:

  1. Use meaningful variable names

  2. Write clear and concise code

  3. Use the built-in Python libraries

  4. Follow the Python style guide

  5. Test your code regularly

1. Use PEP 8: follow the style guide to make your code more readable

PEP 8 is a style guide for writing Python code. The guide provides guidelines for code readability, such as using consistent indentation and whitespace.

Adhering to the PEP 8 style guide can make your Python code more readable and easier to maintain. It can also help you avoid common coding errors.

If you’re new to Python programming, following the PEP 8 style guide is a good way to start developing good coding habits. Once you’re familiar with the basics of Python programming, you can start experimenting with different styles to find what works best for you.

2. Write comments: explain what your code does in plain English

Python is a programming language with many features that can be utilized to create software for a range of purposes. When writing code in python, it is important to include comments that explain what the code does in plain English. This makes the code more readable and easier to understand, especially for someone who is not familiar with the language.

Comments are added in python by using the ”#” symbol. Anything that appears after this symbol on a given line will be ignored by the interpreter, meaning it will not be executed as part of the code. This allows developers to write comments on a separate line or even insert them inline with the code itself.

Including comments in your python code is considered best practice and can save you time down the road when trying to decipher your own code or someone else’s.

3.Use docstrings: document your code so others can understand it

Python is a great language for beginners, but it’s also powerful enough for experienced developers. One of the best things about Python is that you can document your code using docstrings.

Docstrings are a way to document your code so that others can understand it. They’re especially useful if you’re working on a team, or if you want to share your code with others.

To use docstrings, simply add a string after the def statement in your function. This string will be displayed when someone runs help(function_name). For example:

def my_function():
    """This is my function."""
    print("Hello, world!")

4. Use meaningful variable names: choose names that describe what the variable contains

Python is a programming language used by industry tech giants today. Python is known for being user-friendly and having an intuitive syntax. When writing code in Python, it is important to choose variable names that are meaningful and describe what the variable contains. This makes your code easier to read and understand, and can help prevent errors.

5. Keep your code DRY: don’t repeat yourself, use functions and classes instead

It’s important to keep your code DRY - don’t repeat yourself. Use functions and classes instead. This will make your code more efficient and easier to read.

When you’re coding in Python, you can use functions and classes to help you avoid repeating yourself. Functions are a way of grouping together related code, so that you can call them whenever you need them. Classes are a way of defining new types of data, which can be used to represent anything from a single object to a whole database.

Using functions and classes makes your code more efficient and easier to read. It also helps to prevent errors, because you only have to write the code once. So next time you’re coding in Python, remember to keep your code DRY - don’t repeat yourself!

Conclusion: 

In conclusion, these five tips should help you write better Python code: 1)  follow the PEP 8 style guide; 2) use comments to explain what your code is doing; 3) use docstrings to document your code; 4) use descriptive names for variables and functions and ; 5) keep your code dry & unit test your code.

Guest post by Pavan, an Analyst & a Tech Blogger at HKR Trainings. I aspire to learn new things to grow professionally. My articles focus on the latest programming courses and technology trends. I am an expert in delivering content on the market demanding technologies like Python Training, Data Science, etc.