Python Library Reference
::-- ["zhuyj"] [DateTime(2008-07-07T13:04:06Z)] 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:]
= Data Types=
- [:Data Types:]
5. Numeric and Mathematical Modules
6. Internet Data Handling
7. Structured Markup Processing Tools
8. File Formats
9. Cryptographic Services
10. File and Directory Access
11. Data Compression and Archiving
12. Data Persistence
13. Generic Operating System Services
14. Optional Operating System Services
15. Unix Specific Services
16. Interprocess Communication and Networking
17. Internet Protocols and Support
18. Multimedia Services
19. Graphical User Interfaces with Tk
20. Internationalization
21. Program Frameworks
22. Development Tools
23. The Python Debugger
24. The Python Profilers
25. Python Runtime Services
26. Custom Python Interpreters
27. Restricted Execution
28. Importing Modules
29. Python Language Services
30. Python compiler package
31. Abstract Syntax Trees
32. Miscellaneous Services
33. SGI IRIX Specific Services
34. SunOS Specific Services
35. MS Windows Specific Services