Shell

Definition

The Python shell is an interactive interpreter that allows you to execute Python commands one at a time and see immediate results. It's often used for testing small code snippets or performing quick calculations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Python shell can be accessed by typing 'python' or 'python3' in a terminal.
2. In the Python shell, each command is executed immediately after pressing Enter.
3. You can exit the Python shell by typing 'exit()' or using the shortcut Ctrl+D.
4. It supports basic operations like arithmetic calculations, variable assignments, and function definitions.
5. The Python shell provides immediate feedback, which makes it useful for debugging.

Review Questions

• How do you access the Python shell?
• What is one advantage of using the Python shell for testing code?
• What command or key combination exits the Python shell?

Related terms

Interpreter:

A program that executes code line-by-line, often used in programming languages like Python.

REPL:

Stands for Read-Eval-Print Loop; an interactive environment similar to the Python shell that reads user input, evaluates it, prints the result, and loops back to read more input.

Terminal: A text-based interface where users can type commands to interact with their operating system or other programs like the Python shell.