Connect with us

Education

Python 2 vs. Python 3: The Key Differences

Published

on

Python 2 vs. Python 3

Python 2 vs. Python 3

Python is one of the programming languages that has contributed to the expansion of technological possibilities. Python is a programming language that is utilized in practically every industry and for a vast array of coding projects due to its flexibility and capability. The general-purpose programming language has applications in numerous fields, including, but not limited to, Software Engineering, Data Science, Natural Language Processing, and Artificial Intelligence. Python is, therefore, a good option for beginners in the field of programming, as it is not only easy to learn but also in high demand.

Enroll in a Python Free course that teaches the fundamentals of the Python programming language to students with no prior programming expertise. It will guide you through examining topics such as functions, variables, and variables and help you get started with Python programming. You will also learn how to interface with files and classes, as well as how to detect errors.

Dutch computer programmer Guido van Rossum made Python available to the public for the first time in 1991. Since then, there have been numerous modifications and changes made to it. There are three major releases of Python currently available. Python 2 and Python 3 are the only versions currently in use within the Python community.

Python 2 and Python 3 were the principal versions of the Python programming language made accessible to users worldwide.

Let’s begin by comparing Python 2 and Python 3 in terms of their evolution.

  • In 2000, Python 2.0 was made available for the first time. 2010 marked the release of its most recent version, 2.7, to its consumers.
  • 2008 marked the release of Python version 3.0. The most recent version, 3.6, was made available for download in 2016, and work is still ongoing on version 3.7.
  • Python 2.7 is still widely used, although the number of individuals utilizing Python 3 is growing rapidly. In 2016, Python 2.7 was deployed in 71,9% of all projects; by 2017, this figure had decreased to 63.7%. This is an indication that the programming community is slowly turning its focus to Python 3 when creating programs for actual use.

Surprisingly, despite the fact that they are both just different versions of the same programming language, there are substantial changes between Python 2 and Python 3, and it would be rather fascinating to examine them.

  • Python 2.x and Python 3.x are two of the most widely used versions of Python for developing practical applications. Both have a huge number of features and support for a wide range of libraries. Even though official support for Python 2.x will end in 2020, the language is still frequently used for the development and maintenance of existing solutions. In addition, many developers are currently in the process of converting their code from Python 2.x to Python 3.x, which necessitates the expertise of Python 2.x. This article begins with a brief introduction to each version of Python, then examines the key differences between Python 2.x and 3.x.
  • Python 2.7.13 is the latest version of Python 2, whereas Python 3.8.2 is the latest version of Python 3. Python 2 was released to the public for the first time in 2000, and Python 3 followed in 2008. Some firms continue to support Python 2 as a legacy product, although the majority of people consider Python 3 to be the programming language of the future. The vast majority of new programmers would prefer to learn a language that will be relevant in the near future than one that will be phased out in the near future, so Python 3 is an excellent starting point for beginners.
  • The creation of libraries for both versions is required. Due to incompatibility issues, Python 2 has old libraries that are incompatible with Python 3. Python 3 libraries, on the other hand, are backward-compatible with Python 2 and utilize the available functions in a more creative manner. It is possible to transfer a Python 2 library to Python 3; however, it is a challenging and time-consuming process.
  • The print statement is the most frequently highlighted difference between the two versions. In Python 2, the print statement can be written with or without a bracket; however, if it is written with a bracket, an error message will be generated. In Python 3, however, the print statement must be surrounded by brackets. Even if we are able to write the statement without the brackets, it will display a warning and cause problems when we attempt to compile the code. It is not a distinction that impacts functioning, but novice users may have difficulty adapting when switching between versions.
  • Another point of differentiation is that while executing a division program in the language, there is a linguistic distinction. Python 2 is unable to generate a decimal point, whereas Python 3 is able to do so. In Python 2, the solution to 3/2 is 1; however, in Python 3, it is 1.5. Similarly, if you executed 3/2 in Python 2, the output would be 1. In Python 2, the calculation yields a result that is near the exact value, whereas Python 3 yields the exact value. Python 3 divides numbers more efficiently than its predecessor, Python 2.
  • Python 3 has received a great deal of good support from the Python community due to the fact that it is a more recent release and is continually being improved. In the most recent releases, any development conflicts that may have arisen have been resolved, and the type language continues to be enhanced. Python 2, despite receiving community support, is inferior to Python 3. The rate at which Python 2 is compiled is not accelerating with each new version, nor is Python 2 itself improving. There are also numerous Python Free courses that are certified by the Python community which provide excellent guides to using Python 3.
  • Python 2 facilitates working with configuration management tools and as a DevOps engineer by simplifying both of these responsibilities. Due to the fact that the previous tools were built in Python 2, a working grasp of the language is required in order to implement any necessary updates in Python. In addition, a substantial number of libraries cannot be translated to Python 3, making it difficult for those unfamiliar with Python 2 to learn the language. Python 3 is a suitable choice for a novice to begin with if the beginner is a developer who does not use any patches or outdated tools during the development process. The development of new versions of Python 3 takes into account beginners in order to facilitate their development.

As an increasing number of programmers adopt Python 3, this is the most effective way to prepare for the future. Considering that Python 2.7 will no longer be supported after the year 2020, also learning from a free course app, it is evident that for the majority of people, investing time and effort into learning it at this time makes little sense.

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Trending