2.1. Syntax Assignment

  • Identifier is a formal name for variable

  • Variable can change it's value during the program

  • In Python there are no constants

  • NameError when using not declared variable

  • AttributeError when cannot assign to variables

2.1.1. Variables

  • Variable names are case sensitive

  • Names should use only lowercase letters and/or digits

  • Variable names can have digits in it, but not as a first character

  • Variable can change it's value during the program

  • Use underscore _ for multi-word variable names

  • By convention you should use use Latin characters and English names

Identifiers are case sensitive. Use lowercase letters for variable names:

>>> name = 'Mark Watney'

By convention you should use use Latin characters and English names (Non-ASCII characters in an identifier):

>>> imie = 'Mark'
>>> imię = 'Mark'

Note, that word "imie" means first name in Polish language.

Underscore _ is used for multi-word names

>>> first_name = 'Mark'
>>> last_name = 'Watney'

You can also join words.

>>> firstname = 'Mark'
>>> lastname = 'Watney'

Although it works for two words, it could be hard to read for three or more:

You should always use lowercase letters:

>>> name = 'Mark Watney'
>>> Name = 'Mark Watney'

Capital letters by convention has different meaning. The code will run without errors or warnings, but you can mislead others. Remember code is read by 80% of a time, and written in 20%.

Not ok by convention :

>>> firstName = 'Mark'  # Camel Case - not used in Python
>>> Firstname = 'Mark'  # Pascal Case - reserved for class names
>>> FirstName = 'Mark'  # Pascal Case - reserved for class names

Camel Case convention is not used in Python. It is common in other programming language such as C / C++ / C# / Java / JavaScript.

You can put numbers in variables:

>>> name1 = 'Mark'
>>> name2 = 'Mark'

BUt the number cannot be the first character (otherwise will produce SyntaxError):

>>> 1name = 'Mark'

2.1.2. Constants

  • Python do not distinguish between variables and constants

  • Convention: variables with uppercase names should should not change during program

Identifiers (variable/constant names) are case sensitive. Uppercase letters are used for constants (by convention):

>>> FILE = '/etc/passwd'
>>> FILENAME = '/etc/group'

Underscore _ is used for multi-word names:

>>> FILE_NAME = '/etc/shadow'

Python do not distinguish between variables and constants. Python allows you to change "constants" but it's a bad practice (good IDE will tell you):

>>> NAME = 'Mark Watney'
>>> NAME = 'Melissa Lewis'

2.1.3. Variables vs. Constants

  • Identifier names are case sensitive

  • Physical units use names similar to their notation (camel case or Pascal case)

Example:

>>> name = 'Mark Watney'  # variable
>>> NAME = 'Mark Watney'  # constant
>>> Name = 'Mark Watney'  # class

2.1.4. Use Case - 0x01

Definition of second, minute or hour does not change based on location or country (those values should be constants).

>>> SECOND = 1
>>> MINUTE = 60 * SECOND
>>> HOUR = 60 * MINUTE

The definition of a workday, workweek, and workmonth differs based on location, and each country can have different work times (those values should be variables).

>>> workday = 8 * HOUR
>>> workweek = 40 * HOUR

2.1.5. Use Case - 0x02

For physical units it is ok to use proper cased names. It is better to be compliant with well known standard, than to enforce something which will mislead everyone.

>>> Pa = 1
>>> hPa = 100 * Pa
>>> kPa = 1000 * Pa
>>> MPa = 1000000 * Pa

The code above is far more readable, than the following snippet:

>>> PA = 1
>>> HPA = 100 * PA
>>> KPA = 1000 * PA
>>> MPA = 1000000 * PA

Note, that the only change was in variable names. As you can see, this could have a huge impact on describing the intent of what you want to achieve with the code.