Why is the Python programming language called Python?
Quick answer
The Python programming language is named after the British comedy group Monty Python and their TV show Monty Python’s Flying Circus, not the snake. Its creator, Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum, was reading the show’s scripts when he started the project and wanted a name that was short, unique and slightly mysterious.
Python through the years
- December 1989Guido van Rossum starts Python as a hobby project over the Christmas holidays in the Netherlands
- February 1991The first public version is released
- 2000Python 2.0 is released
- 2008Python 3.0 is released, a major cleanup of the language
- 2018Van Rossum steps down as Python’s “Benevolent Dictator For Life”
- 2020Official support for Python 2 ends
Comedy in the code
Python’s documentation and community have fun with the Monty Python connection:
- Example code often uses “spam” and “eggs” instead of “foo” and “bar,” a nod to the famous Spam sketch.
- The built-in learning editor is called IDLE, a joke on Monty Python member Eric Idle.
Why Python is so popular
- Easy to read: It uses indentation and plain English words.
- Versatile: Used for websites, automation, science, data analysis and artificial intelligence.
- Huge library ecosystem: Tools like NumPy, pandas and PyTorch.
- Great for beginners: Often the first language taught in schools.
It’s consistently ranked among the most popular programming languages in the world.
The Zen of Python
Type import this into Python, and you’ll see 19 guiding principles, including “Beautiful is better than ugly” and “Simple is better than complex.”
Hello, world
print("Hello, world!")
That’s a complete Python program.
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