Is Python Easy to Learn? What to Know Before Learning Python

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Eric McClure

Last Updated: October 9, 2021 References

If you’re interested in learning how to code, you may be wondering which programming language to choose. The good news is that if you want something popular and easy-to-learn, you’ve got the right idea here with Python. Out of the dozens of programming languages out there, Python is hands-down one of the easiest to learn for people with no programming experience. It’s intuitive, efficient, and it has a wide range of applications. Want more info about Python to see if it’s right for you? Read on to learn everything you’ll need to know.

Question 1 of 7:

Is Python hard to learn?

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No, it’s relatively easy to learn compared to other options. After HTML (which is only a markup language), Python is widely considered to be the easiest programming language to learn. This isn’t to say it’s a walk in the park—mastering a programming language takes time, effort, and practice—but Python is definitely one of the easier options.^{[1]
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- This is one of the reasons why Python has become more popular over time, while more complex languages, like Java, have become less popular in recent years. It’s just a lot easier for everyone to compile code in Python, so you’re making a wise choice by learning Python.^{[2]
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Its syntax closely resembles English, so it tends to be intuitive. Python’s syntax, which refers to the order of words in a code, feels very instinctual to a lot of professional coders. In fact, the logic of the inputs and commands reads a lot like English once you understand the basics of the language. It’s also not particularly verbose, which means that it doesn’t take very many lines of code to perform tasks.^{[3]
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- For example, if you wanted to print a phrase like “Hello World!” in Python, you’d write: print('Hello World!'). It would take over 3 lines of text to do the same thing in Java!

Question 2 of 7:

How long does it take to learn Python?

It’s reasonable to expect this process to take about 6 months. Unless you’re coming over to Python from another coding language, it’s going to take a few months to master Python. However, since it’s fairly intuitive and simple to read, you can still work a day job and learn Python over the next half-year in your spare time.^{[4]
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- This is another reason why Python is super popular. It can take years to master Java, Javascript, or C++, but Python can be pretty easy to pick up without spending 4+ hours a day in a classroom.
- If you already know another programming language, you might be able to pick it up in as little as a month or two.

Question 3 of 7:

Do you need to be good at math to learn Python?

Not at all; if you passed fourth-grade math, you’re good to go! Learning to code is comparable to learning a new language, but there really isn’t a lot of math involved. When you look at written code, you see a whole lot of numbers. However, those numbers aren’t being used in any kind of equations or formulas. Don’t be intimidated by coding if you don’t know a ton of complicated math. You can do it!^{[5]
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- In fact, you’re probably learning more essential skills for coding in English class. You do very little computation in programming, but you do need to know how to comprehend and analyze written language.^{[6]
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- This isn’t to say that you’re at any kind of disadvantage if you’re good at math. Some of the same skills required to do calculus or algebra will carry over to programming. It helps to know some math, but it’s by no means mandatory.

Question 4 of 7:

What do I need to get started with Python?

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Download the Python 3 interpreter on your computer to run code. Go to https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Download and download the Python 3 interpreter for Windows, MacOS, or Linux depending on whatever operating system you’re using. Python is what’s known as an interpretable language, so you need this to process the code you write.^{[7]
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- Python 3 is totally free, so there are no costs associated with learning here.
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You’ll also need an IDE to write code of your own and practice. IDEs (interactive developer environments) have all of the tools you need to make reading, writing, and saving code easier. There are tons of options out there, and many of them of free. Some of the popular options include:^{[8]
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- IDLE (Online Python Editors). This is a good basic option for new users.
- PyCharm, Sublime, and Atom. These are some of the most popular among pros, but they’re a little tougher to learn.
- Eclipse. Eclipse is a good option if you plan on learning multiple languages, since it runs all of the big ones.
- Emac. This is great if you only want a text editor to focus exclusively on writing code.

Question 5 of 7:

How do I start learning Python?

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Read through the free training materials on Python’s site. Python’s official site is a great resource if you’re new to programming. Visit https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers and start reading through the free books and training materials. It may seem like a lot at first, but you can pick and choose resources here as you like. Just learn the terminology and study the basics for a few weeks.^{[9]
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- There are over 100 free books on this page. Don’t feel obligated to read every single one of them. Pick and choose whatever speaks to you and scan the chapters at your own leisure.
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Complete the free tutorials and classes on Python’s site. Once you’ve read through the basics and you understand the terminology, start completing tutorials, classes, coding games, and walkthroughs. Even if it’s just 20-30 minutes a day, you’ll start to pick up the skills you need to write code.^{[10]
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- You can find dozens of interactive tutorials, classes, and practice exercises for free on the same site as the books at https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers.
- Roughly 70% of professional coders are at least partially self-taught, so don’t worry that you’re not going to make progress here. It takes time to master a programming language, but you will definitely get better if you stick with it!^{[11]
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Practice writing your own code, then practice some more. When it comes to learning any programming language, the best way to learn is by doing. Once you understand the basic mechanics and logic of writing code, practice writing your own code every single day. Over time, you’ll seriously improve your ability to write programs using Python.^{[12]
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- Beginner coding projects that might interest you include: “Hello World,” a dice-rolling simulator, a “guess the number” game, or a simple text-based adventure game.
- Share your code on Python communities, like Stack Overflow, GitHub, and r/LearnPython on Reddit. The folks on these boards will be more than happy to help you troubleshoot, point out ways to improve, and give you feedback on your work.

Question 6 of 7:

What’s the fastest way to learn Python?

An intensive boot camp program will likely be the fastest. Coding boot camps are all the rage these days, and with good reason. They’re relatively cheap compared to a college degree, and the boot camp program will often teach you everything you need to know in a few months. However, these programs are extremely intensive, and it will take a lot of hard work to make it through!^{[13]
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- Boot camps often have an admission requirement test. It’s likely a good idea to spend a few weeks or months learning the basics on your own before you apply.
- The cost of a boot camp can $3,000-13,000 depending on the program, although many of theses boot camps will place you in a job once you graduate.

Question 7 of 7:

Is Python enough to get a job?

Yes, although it helps to have an expertise in a specific area. Python is so widely-used that there are a ton of employers out there looking for Python coders. However, Python has a very wide range of use cases. As a result, it really helps to have experience and/or knowledge in another area. Data analytics, web design, and database management are all good skillsets to pair with Python, for example.^{[14]
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- As an entry level programmer, you can expect to make roughly $77,000 a year. The average experienced Python dev makes roughly $94,000 a year.^{[15]
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- Python is the second most popular programming language in the world. The industry isn’t looking like it’s going to slow down any time soon, so you shouldn’t have to worry about future job prospects.^{[16]
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