Course Progress35%
⏳ 7 min read
Built-in Functions
Python comes with powerful ready-to-use functions. These are the most important ones every Python programmer uses daily.
"Python ships with over 60 built-in functions. You don't need to import anything — they are just there, ready to use."
— ShurAIType and Conversion
python
print(type(42)) # <class 'int'>
print(type("hello")) # <class 'str'>
print(int("99")) # 99 — string to int
print(float("3.14")) # 3.14 — string to float
print(str(100)) # "100" — int to string
print(bool(0)) # False
print(bool("hello")) # True
print(list("abc")) # ['a', 'b', 'c']
Maths
python
nums = [5, 2, 9, 1, 7]
print(len(nums)) # 5 — count of items
print(sum(nums)) # 24 — total
print(max(nums)) # 9 — largest
print(min(nums)) # 1 — smallest
print(abs(-15)) # 15 — absolute value
print(round(3.7654, 2)) # 3.77
print(pow(2, 8)) # 256 — 2 to the power of 8
Sequences & Iteration
python
fruits = ["mango", "apple", "guava"]
# range() — number sequence
print(list(range(5))) # [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
# enumerate() — index + value
for i, fruit in enumerate(fruits, 1):
print(f"{i}. {fruit}") # 1. mango 2. apple 3. guava
# zip() — pair two lists together
names = ["Riya", "Arjun", "Sneha"]
scores = [88, 75, 92]
for name, score in zip(names, scores):
print(f"{name}: {score}")
# sorted() — returns sorted copy
print(sorted([3,1,4,1,5])) # [1, 1, 3, 4, 5]
print(sorted(fruits, reverse=True)) # ['mango', 'guava', 'apple']
# reversed() — iterate in reverse
print(list(reversed(fruits))) # ['guava', 'apple', 'mango']
Input, Output & Inspection
python
# input() — get user input
name = input("Your name: ")
# print() — display output
print("Hello", name)
# len() — length of anything
print(len("Python")) # 6
print(len([1,2,3])) # 3
print(len({"a":1})) # 1
# id() — memory address (useful for debugging)
x = 42
print(id(x)) # unique number like 140234567890
# isinstance() — check if value is a certain type
print(isinstance(42, int)) # True
print(isinstance("hi", str)) # True
print(isinstance(3.14, int)) # False
Quick Reference Table
| Function | Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| len(x) | Length / count | len([1,2,3]) → 3 |
| range(n) | Number sequence | range(3) → 0,1,2 |
| sorted(x) | Sorted copy | sorted([3,1,2]) → [1,2,3] |
| enumerate(x) | Index + value pairs | for i, v in enumerate(lst) |
| zip(a, b) | Pair two sequences | zip([1,2], ["a","b"]) |
| isinstance(x,t) | Type check | isinstance(5, int) → True |
| abs(x) | Absolute value | abs(-9) → 9 |
"Before writing any function from scratch, ask: does Python already have this built in? Most of the time, it does."
— ShurAI🧠 Quiz — Q1
What does len([10, 20, 30, 40]) return?
🧠 Quiz — Q2
What does zip(["a","b"], [1, 2]) produce when looped?
🧠 Quiz — Q3
What does isinstance("hello", int) return?
🧠 Quiz — Q4
What is the result of sorted([5, 2, 8, 1], reverse=True)?