Values and Expressions

Here is some basic Python terminology regarding data in the language.

Values

In Python, we represent data using values. These are encodings that Python recgonizes as representing some type of data. Here are some examples of different values in python:

5, 3.7, 'a', 'Hello World!, True, [1,2,3,4]

Expressions

We can chain values together with operators (functions that can be performed on values) to create expressions. Here are a few examples:

1 + 1 # evaluates to 2

2 - 3 + 7 + (8 // 2) # evaluates to 10

4 ** 3 # evaluates to 256

True or False # evaluates to True

True and False # evaluates to False

not True # evaluates to False

'Hello' + ' ' + 'World!' # evaluates to 'Hello World!'

'Hello' # evaluates to 'Hello'

When given an expression, Python will evaluate it (i.e. perform operatorations according to their order/precdence) into a value. An expression that evaluates to itself is what is known as a literal.

5 # evaluates to 5. This expression *literally* means exactly what is written: 5

'robot' # evaluates to 'robot'. Again, this expression is literally what it means

2 + 2 # evaluates to 4. This is NOT a literal as it isn't *literally* what is written.

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