Python Installation

Before writing Python programs, we need to install Python on our computer. In this section, we will learn how to download Python, install it on Windows, and verify that the installation is working correctly.

Step 1: Download Python

Python can be downloaded from the official Python website. Always prefer the official Python website when installing Python.

Step 2: Choose the Python Version

On the Python website, download the latest stable Python 3 release available for your operating system.

For this tutorial, we will use Python 3. Python 2 is an older version and is no longer used for modern application development.

Step 3: Start the Installation

After downloading the Python installer, open the installer file to start the installation process.

Installation Flow

1. Download the Python installer.
2. Open the installer.
3. Select Add Python to PATH.
4. Click Install Now.
5. Wait for the installation to complete.
6. Close the installer after successful installation.

Step 4: Verify Python Installation

After installation, we can verify Python using Command Prompt.

Open Command Prompt and run:

python --version

Example Output

Python 3.x.x

The exact version number may be different depending on the Python version installed on your computer.

Using the Python Command

We can also start the Python interactive interpreter by typing:

python

If Python is installed correctly, you should see the Python prompt:

>>>

Test Your Python Installation

Now let's execute a simple Python statement.

print("Python is working!")

Output

Python is working!

What is PATH?

PATH is an environment variable used by the operating system to locate executable programs.

When Python is added to PATH, we can run the python command directly from Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Python Launcher on Windows

On Windows, you can also try the Python launcher:

py --version

If Python is installed and the Python launcher is available, this command displays the installed Python version.