Python is a high-level, interpreted, interactive and object-oriented scripting language. Python is designed to be highly readable. It uses English keywords frequently where as other languages use punctuation, and it has fewer syntactical constructions than other languages.

• Python is Interpreted â?? Python is processed at runtime by the interpreter. You do not need to compile your program before executing it. This is similar to PERL and PHP.

• Python is Interactive â?? You can actually sit at a Python prompt and interact with the interpreter directly to write your programs.

• Python is Object-Oriented â?? Python supports Object-Oriented style or technique of programming that encapsulates code within objects.

• Python is a Beginner's Language â?? Python is a great language for the beginner-level programmers and supports the development of a wide range of applications from simple text processing to WWW browsers to games.

Python's features include â??

• Easy-to-learn â?? Python has few keywords, simple structure, and a clearly defined syntax. This allows the student to pick up the language quickly.

• Easy-to-read â?? Python code is more clearly defined and visible to the eyes.

• Easy-to-maintain â?? Python's source code is fairly easy-to-maintain.

• A broad standard library â?? Python's bulk of the library is very portable and cross-platform compatible on UNIX, Windows, and Macintosh.

• Interactive Mode â?? Python has support for an interactive mode which allows interactive testing and debugging of snippets of code.

• Portable â?? Python can run on a wide variety of hardware platforms and has the same interface on all platforms.

• Extendable â?? You can add low-level modules to the Python interpreter. These modules enable programmers to add to or customize their tools to be more efficient.

• Databases â?? Python provides interfaces to all major commercial databases.

• GUI Programming â?? Python supports GUI applications that can be created and ported to many system calls, libraries and windows systems, such as Windows MFC, Macintosh, and the X Window system of Unix.

• Scalable â?? Python provides a better structure and support for large programs than shell scripting.