Python 3.9.1 - Released on February 13, 2021
The “Python library” contains several different kinds of components, and some branch modifications done by Justin Mitchell. Treat all branches besides 'main' as such , experimental!
The 'main' branch/repository has NO Modifications or Integrations to the Python 3.9.1 stable release, and the standard archive can be downloaded and unpacked in this branch or viewed unpacked in docs.
To Download the archive containing all the documents for this version of Python 3.9.1 in PDF, HTML, Plain Text, and/or EPUB clone the 'main' repository for the stable version or go to (docs.python.org) Any and all other branches should be considered "experimental" development/testing that will be updated frequently.
THE Unpacking Unix users should download the .tar.bz2 archives; these are bzipped tar archives and can be handled in the usual way using tar and the bzip2 program. The InfoZIP unzip program can be used to handle the ZIP archives if desired. The .tar.bz2 archives provide the best compression and fastest download times. Windows users can use the ZIP archives since those are customary on that platform. These are created on Unix using the InfoZIP zip program. Problems?-If you have comments or suggestions for the Python documentation, please send email to docs@python.org.
PYTHON 3.9.1 Stable Release The library contains data types that would normally be considered part of the “core” of a language, such as numbers and lists. For these types, the Python language core defines the form of literals and places some constraints on their semantics, but does not fully define the semantics. (On the other hand, the language core does define syntactic properties like the spelling and priorities of operators.)
The library also contains built-in functions and exceptions — objects that can be used by all Python code without the need of an import statement. Some of these are defined by the core language, but many are not essential for the core semantics and are only described here.
The bulk of the library, however, consists of a collection of modules. There are many ways to dissect this collection. Some modules are written in C and built in to the Python interpreter; others are written in Python and imported in source form. Some modules provide interfaces that are highly specific to Python, like printing a stack trace; some provide interfaces that are specific to particular operating systems, such as access to specific hardware; others provide interfaces that are specific to a particular application domain, like the World Wide Web. Some modules are available in all versions and ports of Python; others are only available when the underlying system supports or requires them; yet others are available only when a particular configuration option was chosen at the time when Python was compiled and installed. This manual is organized “from the inside out:” it first describes the built-in functions, data types and exceptions, and finally the modules, grouped in chapters of related modules.
This means that if you start reading this manual from the start, and skip to the next chapter when you get bored, you will get a reasonable overview of the available modules and application areas that are supported by the Python library. Of course, you don’t have to read it like a novel — you can also browse the table of contents (in front of the manual), or look for a specific function, module or term in the index (in the back). And finally, if you enjoy learning about random subjects, you choose a random page number (see module random) and read a section or two. Regardless of the order in which you read the sections of this manual, it helps to start with chapter Built-in Functions, as the remainder of the manual assumes familiarity with this material. Let the show begin!
The Python Library Reference, Release 3.9.1 Feb. 13, 2021 (J.Mitchell)