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53 lines
2.7 KiB
53 lines
2.7 KiB
4 months ago
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.. _library-intro:
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************
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Introduction
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************
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The "Python library" contains several different kinds of components.
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It contains data types that would normally be considered part of the "core" of a
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language, such as numbers and lists. For these types, the Python language core
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defines the form of literals and places some constraints on their semantics, but
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does not fully define the semantics. (On the other hand, the language core does
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define syntactic properties like the spelling and priorities of operators.)
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The library also contains built-in functions and exceptions --- objects that can
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be used by all Python code without the need of an :keyword:`import` statement.
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Some of these are defined by the core language, but many are not essential for
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the core semantics and are only described here.
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The bulk of the library, however, consists of a collection of modules. There are
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many ways to dissect this collection. Some modules are written in C and built
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in to the Python interpreter; others are written in Python and imported in
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source form. Some modules provide interfaces that are highly specific to
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Python, like printing a stack trace; some provide interfaces that are specific
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to particular operating systems, such as access to specific hardware; others
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provide interfaces that are specific to a particular application domain, like
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the World Wide Web. Some modules are available in all versions and ports of
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Python; others are only available when the underlying system supports or
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requires them; yet others are available only when a particular configuration
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option was chosen at the time when Python was compiled and installed.
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This manual is organized "from the inside out:" it first describes the built-in
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data types, then the built-in functions and exceptions, and finally the modules,
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grouped in chapters of related modules. The ordering of the chapters as well as
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the ordering of the modules within each chapter is roughly from most relevant to
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least important.
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This means that if you start reading this manual from the start, and skip to the
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next chapter when you get bored, you will get a reasonable overview of the
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available modules and application areas that are supported by the Python
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library. Of course, you don't *have* to read it like a novel --- you can also
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browse the table of contents (in front of the manual), or look for a specific
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function, module or term in the index (in the back). And finally, if you enjoy
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learning about random subjects, you choose a random page number (see module
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:mod:`random`) and read a section or two. Regardless of the order in which you
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read the sections of this manual, it helps to start with chapter
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:ref:`built-in-funcs`, as the remainder of the manual assumes familiarity with
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this material.
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Let the show begin!
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