Python Library Reference

::-- ["zhuyj"] [DateTime(2008-07-07T13:06:57Z)] TableOfContents

Python Library Reference Guido van Rossum Python Software Foundation

• Email: [email protected] Fred L. Drake, Jr., editor

Release 2.5

• 19th September, 2006

1. Introduction

The Python library contains several different kinds of components.

• It 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 data types, then the built-in functions and exceptions, and finally the modules, grouped in chapters of related modules. The ordering of the chapters as well as the ordering of the modules within each chapter is roughly from most relevant to least important. 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 2, Built-in Types, Exceptions and Functions, as the remainder of the manual assumes familiarity with this material. Let the show begin!

2. Built-in Objects

• [:Built-in Objects:]

3. Built-in Types

• [:Built-in Types:]

4. String Services

• [:String Services:]

5. Data Types

• [:Data Types:]

6. Numeric and Mathematical Modules

7. Internet Data Handling

This chapter describes modules which support handling data formats commonly used on the Internet.

• [:Internet Data Handling:]

8. Structured Markup Processing Tools

9. File Formats

10. Cryptographic Services

11. File and Directory Access

12. Data Compression and Archiving

13. Data Persistence

14. Generic Operating System Services

15. Optional Operating System Services

16. Unix Specific Services

17. Interprocess Communication and Networking

18. Internet Protocols and Support

19. Multimedia Services

20. Graphical User Interfaces with Tk

21. Internationalization

22. Program Frameworks

23. Development Tools

24. The Python Debugger

25. The Python Profilers

26. Python Runtime Services

27. Custom Python Interpreters

28. Restricted Execution

29. Importing Modules

30. Python Language Services

31. Python compiler package

32. Abstract Syntax Trees

33. Miscellaneous Services

34. SGI IRIX Specific Services

35. SunOS Specific Services

36. MS Windows Specific Services

37. 交流

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