Sign In
Sign In

Bitwise Operators in Python

Bitwise Operators in Python
Hostman Team
Technical writer
Python
07.04.2025
Reading time: 7 min

Although Python is not typically considered suitable for low-level programming, it still provides tools for this purpose. One such tool is bitwise (or binary) operators.

Bitwise operators in Python are designed for modifying binary code strings, which can be useful when working with cryptographic algorithms, device drivers, or network infrastructure. They can also be helpful for low-level graphics manipulation and any other tasks that require performing various operations on binary code.

The result of using bitwise operators in Python is the modification of an object at the bit level through different types of logical operations on binary code. This article will explore these operations.

Bitwise Output of Natural Numbers

Since we will be working with binary code, primarily with integers, let's first learn how to output these numbers in the required format. This is done very simply:

>>> bin(5)
'0b101'

Here, we get the binary representation of the number 5. But is it truly binary? In reality, the number 5 is represented by the last three digits (101), while the prefix 0b is used in Python to indicate binary notation (with -0b for negative values).

Now we can display any number in binary form. Below is what zero and the first ten numbers look like:

>>> bin(0)
0b0
>>> bin(1)
0b1
>>> bin(2)
0b10
>>> bin(3)
0b11
>>> bin(4)
0b100
>>> bin(5)
0b101
>>> bin(6)
0b110
>>> bin(7)
0b111
>>> bin(8)
0b1000
>>> bin(9)
0b1001
>>> bin(10)
0b1010

From this sequence, the principle of binary representation becomes clear: ones sequentially replace zeros, and when all values reach 1, a new bit position is added. Let's count up to 15:

>>> bin(11)
0b1011
>>> bin(12)
0b1100
>>> bin(13)
0b1101
>>> bin(14)
0b1110
>>> bin(15)
0b1111

The fourth bit position is now full (all ones), so a fifth position is introduced for numbers 16 and 17:

>>> bin(16)
0b10000
>>> bin(17)
0b10001

Thus, binary code follows strict mathematical rules:

  • Numbers from 4 to 7 have three bits,
  • Numbers from 8 to 15 require four bits,
  • Numbers from 16 to 31 need five bits,
  • Numbers from 32 to 63 use six bits,
  • Numbers from 64 to 127 require seven bits, and so on.

In other words, a new bit position is added every time the number is doubled. This is useful when comparing operands with different bit widths: in such cases, you can pad the smaller operand with leading zeros immediately after 0b.

Basic Bitwise Operators in Python

Now we are ready to operate with bits using the logic of the following tools:

  • & (AND)
  • | (OR)
  • ^ (XOR)
  • ~ (NOT)
  • Shifts

& (AND)

Logic: When comparing two bits (in the same position), & returns 1 (the bit is copied) if the bit exists in both operands and 0 if it is absent in at least one operand. The schematic representation is as follows:

1 & 1 = 1
1 & 0 = 0
0 & 1 = 0
0 & 0 = 0

This is the strictest condition, where a bit is returned (1) only if it was present in both operands.

Examples:

>>> 3 & 6
2

Because:

3 =  0b011
6 =  0b110
2 =  0b010

Adding a third bit to 3 for better representation, we see that only the middle bits match (both 1), so the result is 0b010, which is 2.

>>> 24 & 62
24

Because:

24  = 0b011000
62  = 0b111110
24  = 0b011000

An interesting result, as the matching bits align perfectly with the representation of the first number.

>>> 555 & 878
554
555 = 0b1000101011
878 = 0b1101101110
554 = 0b1000101010

Now, some more complex examples with numbers of different bit lengths:

>>> 80 & 755
80
80   = 0b0001010000
755  = 0b1011110011
80   = 0b0001010000
>>> 446 & 19
18
446  = 0b110111110
19   = 0b000010011
18   = 0b000010010
>>> 101 & 883
97
101  = 0b0001100101
883  = 0b1101110011
97   = 0b0001100001

| (OR)

Logic: When comparing two bits, | returns 1 if the bit exists in at least one of the operands, and 0 if it is absent in both. The schematic representation:

1 | 1 = 1
1 | 0 = 1
0 | 1 = 1
0 | 0 = 0

Thus, the bit is returned in all cases except when both operands have 0.

Examples:

>>> 9 | 5
13
9   = 0b1001
5   = 0b0101
13  = 0b1101

A bit is not copied only in the second position (from the right) because both operands have 0 there.

>>> 87 | 59
127
87   = 0b1010111
59   = 0b0111011
127  = 0b1111111
>>> 846 | 657
991
846 = 0b1101001110
657 = 0b1010010001
991 = 0b1111011111

Now, some more complex cases:

>>> 80 | 755
755
80   = 0b0001010000
755  = 0b1011110011
755  = 0b1011110011
>>> 446 | 19
447
446  = 0b110111110
19   = 0b000010011
447  = 0b110111111
>>> 101 | 883
887
101  = 0b0001100101
883  = 0b1101110011
887  = 0b1101110111

^ (XOR, Exclusive OR)

Logic: When comparing two bits, ^ returns 1 if the operands are different, and 0 if they are the same. The schematic representation:

1 ^ 1 = 0
1 ^ 0 = 1
0 ^ 1 = 1
0 ^ 0 = 0

As we can see, XOR does not care whether the comparison involves two 1s or two 0s—in both cases, the bit is not returned. The bit is only returned when the values differ.

Examples:

>>> 5 ^ 2
7
5 = 0b0101
2 = 0b0010
7 = 0b0111

Only in the leftmost position do the operands match; in all other positions, they differ, so 1s are returned there.

>>> 90 ^ 92
6
90  = 0b1011010
92  = 0b1011100
6   = 0b0000110
>>> 352 ^ 686
974
352 = 0b0101100000
686 = 0b1010101110
974 = 0b1111001110

Some more complex cases with operands of different bit lengths:

>>> 80 ^ 755
675
80   = 0b0001010000
755  = 0b1011110011
675  = 0b1010100011
>>> 446 ^ 19
429
446  = 0b110111110
19   = 0b000010011
429  = 0b110101101
>>> 101 ^ 883
790
101  = 0b0001100101
883  = 0b1101110011
790  = 0b1100010110

~ (NOT)

~ does not compare values but inverts the bits in an integer value. Keep in mind that positive numbers will be converted to negative numbers with a shift of -1, and vice versa.

Examples:

>>> ~0
-1
>>> ~30
-31
>>> ~-30
29
>>> ~80
-81
>>> ~-80
79
>>> ~255
-256
>>> ~-255
254

Bitwise Left and Right Shifts

The left shift is represented by the << symbol. The number being modified is written to the left, and the number of bits to shift is written to the right.

>>> 1 << 1
2

We shifted 1 by 1 bit to the left and got 2, because:

1 =  0b01
2 =  0b10

That is, the 1 moved one position to the left. What if we shift it by two positions?

>>> 1 << 2
4

Yes, we get 4, because:

1 =  0b001
4 =  0b100

It’s easy to guess what happens when shifting by 3 positions:

>>> 1 << 3
8
1  = 0b0001
8  = 0b1000  

Here are some more examples with bit breakdowns:

>>> 10 << 1
20
10  = 0b01010
20  = 0b10100
>>> 10 << 2
40
10  = 0b001010
40  = 0b101000

The right shift is represented by the >> symbol. Similar to the left shift, the number being modified is on the left, and the number of bits to shift is on the right. This is the reverse operation:

>>> 2 >> 1
1
>>> 4 >> 2
1
>>> 8 >> 3
1
>>> 40 >> 1
20
>>> 40 >> 2
10

Practical Applications in Programming

One of the areas in IT where bitwise operations (especially shifts) are widely used is cryptography. Shift operations allow data values to be modified in such a way that decryption becomes impossible without the necessary keys storing the original values.

Another area of application for bitwise operations is networking technologies, where bit manipulations are essential for checking address and subnet matching.

Additionally, practicing bitwise AND (&) and bitwise OR (|) can help you better understand how the and and or operators work in Python, as well as how any programs based on Boolean logic (which relies on True (1) and False (0)) function.

Python
07.04.2025
Reading time: 7 min

Similar

Python

Command-Line Option and Argument Parsing using argparse in Python

Command-line interfaces (CLIs) are one of the quickest and most effective means of interacting with software. They enable you to provide commands directly which leads to quicker execution and enhanced features. Developers often build CLIs using Python for several applications, utilities, and automation scripts, ensuring they can dynamically process user input. This is where the Python argparse module steps in. The argparse Python module streamlines the process of managing command-line inputs, enabling developers to create interactive and user-friendly utilities. As part of the standard library, it allows programmers to define, process, and validate inputs seamlessly without the need for complex logic. This article will discuss some of the most important concepts, useful examples, and advanced features of the argparse module so that you can start building solid command-line tools right away. How to Use Python argparse for Command-Line Interfaces This is how to use argparse in your Python script: Step 1: Import Module First import the module into your Python parser script: import argparse This inclusion enables parsing .py arg inputs from the command line. Step 2: Create an ArgumentParser Object The ArgumentParser class is the most minimal class of the Python argumentparser module's API. To use it, begin by creating an instance of the class: parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="A Hostman tutorial on Python argparse.") Here: description describes what the program does and will be displayed when someone runs --help. Step 3: Add Inputs and Options Define the parameters and features your program accepts via add_argument() function: parser.add_argument('filename', type=str, help="Name of the file to process") parser.add_argument('--verbose', action='store_true', help="Enable verbose mode") Here: filename is a mandatory option. --verbose is optional, to allow you to set the flag to make it verbose. Step 4: Parse User Inputs Process the user-provided inputs by invoking the parse_args() Python method: args = parser.parse_args() This stores the command-line values as attributes of the args object for further use in your Python script.  Step 5: Access Processed Data Access the inputs and options for further use in your program: For example: print(f"File to process: {args.filename}") if args.verbose:     print("Verbose mode enabled") else:     print("Verbose mode disabled") Example CLI Usage Here are some scenarios to run this script: File Processing Without Verbose Mode python3 file.py example.txt File Processing With Verbose Mode python3 file.py example.txt --verbose Display Help If you need to see what arguments the script accepts or their description, use the --help argument: python3 file.py --help Common Examples of argparse Usage Let's explore a few practical examples of the module. Example 1: Adding Default Values Sometimes, optional inputs in command-line interfaces need predefined values for smoother execution. With this module, you can set a default value that applies when someone doesn’t provide input. This script sets a default timeout of 30 seconds if you don’t specify the --timeout parameter. import argparse # Create the argument parser parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating default argument values.") # Pass an optional argument with a default value parser.add_argument('--timeout', type=int, default=30, help="Timeout in seconds (default: 30)") # Interpret the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Retrieve and print the timeout value print(f"Timeout value: {args.timeout} seconds") Explanation Importing Module: Importing the argparse module. Creating the ArgumentParser Instance: An ArgumentParser object is created with a description so that a short description of the program purpose is provided. This description is displayed when the user runs the program via the --help option. Including --timeout: The --timeout option is not obligatory (indicated by the -- prefix). The type=int makes the argument for --timeout an integer. The default=30 is provided so that in case the user does not enter a value, then the timeout would be 30 seconds. The help parameter adds a description to the argument, and it will also appear in the help documentation. Parsing Process: The parse_args() function processes user inputs and makes them accessible as attributes of the args object. In our example, we access args.timeout and print out its value. Case 1: Default Value Used If the --timeout option is not specified, the default value of 30 seconds is used: python file.py Case 2: Custom Value Provided For a custom value for --timeout (e.g., 60 seconds), apply: python file.py --timeout 60 Example 2: Utilizing Choices The argparse choices parameter allows you to restrict an argument to a set of beforehand known valid values. This is useful if your program features some specific modes, options, or settings to check. Here, we will specify a --mode option with two default values: basic and advanced. import argparse # Creating argument parser parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating the use of choices in argparse.") # Adding the --mode argument with predefined choices parser.add_argument('--mode', choices=['basic', 'advanced'], help="Choose the mode of operation") # Parse the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Access and display the selected mode if args.mode: print(f"Mode selected: {args.mode}") else: print("No mode selected. Please choose 'basic' or 'advanced'.") Adding --mode: The choices argument indicates that valid options for the --mode are basic and advanced. The application will fail when the user supplies an input other than in choices. Help Text: The help parameter gives valuable information when the --help command is executed. Case 1: Valid Input To specify a valid value for --mode, utilize: python3 file.py --mode basic Case 2: No Input Provided For running the program without specifying a mode: python3 file.py Case 3: Invalid Input If a value is provided that is not in the predefined choices: python3 file.py --mode intermediate Example 3: Handling Multiple Values The nargs option causes an argument to accept more than one input. This is useful whenever your program requires a list of values for processing, i.e., numbers, filenames, or options. Here we will show how to use nargs='+' to accept a --numbers option that can take multiple integers. import argparse # Create an ArgumentParser object parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating how to handle multiple values using argparse.") # Add the --numbers argument with nargs='+' parser.add_argument('--numbers', nargs='+', type=int, help="List of numbers to process") # Parse the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Access and display the numbers if args.numbers: print(f"Numbers provided: {args.numbers}") print(f"Sum of numbers: {sum(args.numbers)}") else: print("No numbers provided. Please use --numbers followed by a list of integers.") Adding the --numbers Option: The user can provide a list of values as arguments for --numbers. type=int interprets the input as an integer. If a non-integer input is provided, the program raises an exception. The help parameter gives the information.  Parsing Phase: After parsing the arguments, the input to --numbers is stored in the form of a list in args.numbers. Utilizing the Input: You just need to iterate over the list, calculate statistics (e.g., sum, mean), or any other calculation on the input. Case 1: Providing Multiple Numbers To specify multiple integers for the --numbers parameter, execute: python3 file.py --numbers 10 20 30 Case 2: Providing a Single Number If just one integer is specified, run: python3 file.py --numbers 5 Case 3: No Input Provided If the script is run without --numbers: python3 file.py Case 4: Invalid Input In case of inputting a non-integer value: python3 file.py --numbers 10 abc 20 Example 4: Required Optional Arguments Optional arguments (those that begin with the --) are not mandatory by default. But there are times when you would like them to be mandatory for your script to work properly. You can achieve this by passing the required=True parameter when defining the argument. In this script, --config specifies a path to a configuration file. By leveraging required=True, the script enforces that a value for --config must be provided. If omitted, the program will throw an error. import argparse # Create an ArgumentParser object parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating required optional arguments in argparse.") # Add the --config argument parser.add_argument('--config', required=True, help="Path to the configuration file") # Parse the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Access and display the provided configuration file path print(f"Configuration file path: {args.config}") Adding the --config Option: --config is considered optional since it starts with --. However, thanks to the required=True parameter, users must include it when they run the script. The help parameter clarifies what this parameter does, and you'll see this information in the help message when you use --help. Parsing: The parse_args() method takes care of processing the arguments. If someone forgets to include --config, the program will stop and show a clear error message. Accessing the Input: The value you provide for --config gets stored in args.config. You can then use this in your script to work with the configuration file. Case 1: Valid Input For providing a valid path to the configuration file, use: python3 file.py --config settings.json Case 2: Missing the Required Argument For running the script without specifying --config, apply: python3 file.py Advanced Features  While argparse excels at handling basic command-line arguments, it also provides advanced features that enhance the functionality and usability of your CLIs. These features ensure your scripts are scalable, readable, and easy to maintain. Below are some advanced capabilities you can leverage. Handling Boolean Flags Boolean flags allow toggling features (on/off) without requiring user input. Use the action='store_true' or action='store_false' parameters to implement these flags. parser.add_argument('--debug', action='store_true', help="Enable debugging mode") Including --debug enables debugging mode, useful for many Python argparse examples. Grouping Related Arguments Use add_argument_group() to organize related arguments, improving readability in complex CLIs. group = parser.add_argument_group('File Operations') group.add_argument('--input', type=str, help="Input file") group.add_argument('--output', type=str, help="Output file") Grouped arguments appear under their own section in the --help documentation. Mutually Exclusive Arguments To ensure users select only one of several conflicting options, use the add_mutually_exclusive_group() method. group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group() group.add_argument('--json', action='store_true', help="Output in JSON format") group.add_argument('--xml', action='store_true', help="Output in XML format") This ensures one can choose either JSON or XML, but not both. Conclusion The argparse Python module simplifies creating reliable CLIs for handling Python program command line arguments. From the most basic option of just providing an input to more complex ones like setting choices and nargs, developers can build user-friendly and robust CLIs. Following the best practices of giving proper names to arguments and writing good docstrings would help you in making your scripts user-friendly and easier to maintain.
21 July 2025 · 10 min to read
Python

How to Get the Length of a List in Python

Lists in Python are used almost everywhere. In this tutorial we will look at four ways to find the length of a Python list: by using built‑in functions, recursion, and a loop. Knowing the length of a list is most often required to iterate through it and perform various operations on it. len() function len() is a built‑in Python function for finding the length of a list. It takes one argument—the list itself—and returns an integer equal to the list’s length. The same function also works with other iterable objects, such as strings. Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands", "Germany"] count = len(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 4 countries Finding the Length of a List with a Loop You can determine a list’s length in Python with a for loop. The idea is to traverse the entire list while incrementing a counter by  1 on each iteration. Let’s wrap this in a separate function: def list_length(list): counter = 0 for i in list: counter = counter + 1 return counter Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands", "Germany", "Japan"] count = list_length(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 5 countries Finding the Length of a List with Recursion The same task can be solved with recursion: def list_length_recursive(list): if not list: return 0 return 1 + list_length_recursive(list[1:]) Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands","Germany", "Japan", "Poland"] count = list_length_recursive(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 6 countries How it works. The function list_length_recursive() receives a list as input. If the list is empty, it returns 0—the length of an empty list. Otherwise it calls itself recursively with the argument list[1:], a slice of the original list starting from index 1 (i.e., the list without the element at index 0). The result of that call is added to 1. With each recursive step the returned value grows by one while the list shrinks by one element. length_hint() function The length_hint() function lives in the operator module. That module contains functions analogous to Python’s internal operators: addition, subtraction, comparison, and so on. length_hint() returns the length of iterable objects such as strings, tuples, dictionaries, and lists. It works similarly to len(): from operator import length_hint Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands","Germany", "Japan", "Poland", "Sweden"] count = length_hint(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 7 countries Note that length_hint() must be imported before use. Conclusion In this guide we covered four ways to determine the length of a list in Python. Under equal conditions the most efficient method is len(). The other approaches are justified mainly when you are implementing custom classes similar to list.
17 July 2025 · 3 min to read
Python

Understanding the main() Function in Python

In any complex program, it’s crucial to organize the code properly: define a starting point and separate its logical components. In Python, modules can be executed on their own or imported into other modules, so a well‑designed program must detect the execution context and adjust its behavior accordingly.  Separating run‑time code from import‑time code prevents premature execution, and having a single entry point makes it easier to configure launch parameters, pass command‑line arguments, and set up tests. When all important logic is gathered in one place, adding automated tests and rolling out new features becomes much more convenient.  For exactly these reasons it is common in Python to create a dedicated function that is called only when the script is run directly. Thanks to it, the code stays clean, modular, and controllable. That function, usually named main(), is the focus of this article. All examples were executed with Python 3.10.12 on a Hostman cloud server running Ubuntu 22.04. Each script was placed in a separate .py file (e.g., script.py) and started with: python script.py The scripts are written so they can be run just as easily in any online Python compiler for quick demonstrations. What Is the main() Function in Python The simplest Python code might look like: print("Hello, world!")  # direct execution Or a script might execute statements in sequence at file level: print("Hello, world!")       # action #1 print("How are you, world?") # action #2 print("Good‑bye, world...")  # action #3 That trivial arrangement works only for the simplest scripts. As a program grows, the logic quickly becomes tangled and demands re‑organization: # function containing the program’s main logic (entry point) def main():     print("Hello, world!") # launch the main logic if __name__ == "__main__":     main()                    # call the function with the main logic With more actions the code might look like: def main(): print("Hello, world!") print("How are you, world?") print("Good‑bye, world...") if __name__ == "__main__": main() This implementation has several important aspects, discussed below. The main() Function The core program logic lives inside a separate function. Although the name can be anything, developers usually choose main, mirroring C, C++, Java, and other languages.  Both helper code and the main logic are encapsulated: nothing sits “naked” at file scope. # greeting helper def greet(name): print(f"Hello, {name}!") # program logic def main(): name = input("Enter your name: ") greet(name) # launch the program if __name__ == "__main__": main() Thus main() acts as the entry point just as in many other languages. The if __name__ == "__main__" Check Before calling main() comes the somewhat odd construct if __name__ == "__main__":.  Its purpose is to split running from importing logic: If the script runs directly, the code inside the if block executes. If the script is imported, the block is skipped. Inside that block, you can put any code—not only the main() call: if __name__ == "__main__":     print("Any code can live here, not only main()") __name__ is one of Python’s built‑in “dunder” (double‑underscore) variables, often called magic or special. All dunder objects are defined and used internally by Python, but regular users can read them too. Depending on the context, __name__ holds: "__main__" when the module runs as a standalone script. The module’s own name when it is imported elsewhere. This lets a module discover its execution context. Advantages of Using  main() Organization Helper functions and classes, as well as the main function, are wrapped separately, making them easy to find and read. Global code is minimal—only initialization stays at file scope: def process_data(data): return [d * 2 for d in data] def main(): raw = [1, 2, 3, 4] result = process_data(raw) print("Result:", result) if __name__ == "__main__": main() A consistent style means no data manipulation happens at the file level. Even in a large script you can quickly locate the start of execution and any auxiliary sections. Isolation When code is written directly at the module level, every temporary variable, file handle, or connection lives in the global namespace, which can be painful for debugging and testing. Importing such a module pollutes the importer’s globals: # executes immediately on import values = [2, 4, 6] doubles = [] for v in values: doubles.append(v * 2) print("Doubled values:", doubles) With main() everything is local; when the function returns, its variables vanish: def double_list(items): return [x * 2 for x in items] # create a new list with doubled elements def main(): values = [2, 4, 6] result = double_list(values) print("Doubled values:", result) if __name__ == "__main__": main() That’s invaluable for unit testing, where you might run specific functions (including  main()) without triggering the whole program. Safety Without the __name__ check, top‑level code runs even on import—usually undesirable and potentially harmful. some.py: print("This code will execute even on import!") def useful_function(): return 42 main.py: import some print("The logic of the imported module executed itself...") Console: This code will execute even on import! The logic of the imported module executed itself... The safer some.py: def useful_function():     return 42 def main():     print("This code will not run on import") main() plus the __name__ check guard against accidental execution. Inside main() you can also verify user permissions or environment variables. How to Write main() in Python Remember: main() is not a language construct, just a regular function promoted to “entry point.” To ensure it runs only when the script starts directly: Tools – define helper functions with business logic. Logic – assemble them inside main() in the desired order. Check – add the if __name__ == "__main__" guard.  This template yields structured, import‑safe, test‑friendly code—excellent practice for any sizable Python project. Example Python Program Using main() # import the standard counter from collections import Counter # runs no matter how the program starts print("The text‑analysis program is active") # text‑analysis helper def analyze_text(text): words = text.split() # split text into words total = len(words) # total word count unique = len(set(words)) # unique word count avg_len = sum(len(w) for w in words) / total if total else 0 freq = Counter(words) # build frequency counter top3 = freq.most_common(3) # top three words return { 'total': total, 'unique': unique, 'avg_len': avg_len, 'top3': top3 } # program’s main logic def main(): print("Enter text (multiple lines). Press Enter on an empty line to finish:") lines = [] while True: line = input() if not line: break lines.append(line) text = ' '.join(lines) stats = analyze_text(text) print(f"\nTotal number of words: {stats['total']}") print(f"Unique words: {stats['unique']}") print(f"Average word length: {stats['avg_len']:.2f}") print("Top‑3 most frequent words:") for word, count in stats['top3']: print(f" {word!r}: {count} time(s)") # launch program if __name__ == "__main__": main() Running the script prints a prompt: Enter text (multiple lines). Press Enter on an empty line to finish: Input first line: Star cruiser Orion glided silently through the darkness of intergalactic space. Second line: Signals of unknown life‑forms flashed on the onboard sensors where the nebula glowed with a phosphorescent light. Third line: The cruiser checked the sensors, then the cruiser activated the defense system, and the cruiser returned to its course. Console output: The text‑analysis program is active Total number of words: 47 Unique words: 37 Average word length: 5.68 Top‑3 most frequent words: 'the': 7 time(s) 'cruiser': 4 time(s) 'of': 2 time(s) If you import this program (file program.py) elsewhere: import program         # importing program.py Only the code outside main() runs: The text‑analysis program is active So, a moderately complex text‑analysis utility achieves clear logic separation and context detection. When to Use main() and When Not To Use  main() (almost always appropriate) when: Medium/large scripts – significant code with non‑trivial logic, multiple functions/classes. Libraries or CLI utilities – you want parts of the module importable without side effects. Autotests – you need to test pure logic without extra boilerplate. You can skip main() when: Tiny one‑off scripts – trivial logic for a quick data tweak. Educational snippets – short examples illustrating a few syntax features. In short, if your Python program is a standalone utility or app with multiple processing stages, command‑line arguments, and external resources—introduce  main(). If it’s a small throw‑away script, omitting main() keeps things concise. Conclusion The  main() function in Python serves two critical purposes: Isolates the program’s core logic from the global namespace. Separates standalone‑execution logic from import logic. Thus, a Python file evolves from a straightforward script of sequential actions into a fully‑fledged program with an entry point, encapsulated logic, and the ability to detect its runtime environment.
14 July 2025 · 8 min to read

Do you have questions,
comments, or concerns?

Our professionals are available to assist you at any moment,
whether you need help or are just unsure of where to start.
Email us
Hostman's Support