Python's Built-In Functions
Built into the Python interpreter are a number of functions (pieces of code that carry out specific operations and return the results of those operations), including math functions other than the standard arithmetic operators. Here's a list of Python's built-in functions along with their pattern and corresponding action:
| Syntax |
Action |
| abs(number) |
Return absolute value of number |
| all(iterable) |
Return True unless at least one element is false |
| any(iterable) |
Return False unless at least one element is true |
| chr(integer) |
Return the character with the specified ASCII value (must be
between 0 and 256) |
| delattr(object, name), del x.y |
Delete the named attribute from object |
| dir([object]) |
Return the names in the current namespace or object's
namespace |
| eval(source[, globals[, locals]]) |
Execute source as a Python expression |
| getattr(object, name[, default]) x.y |
Return specified attribute (name) of object,
raising AttributeError if not found; optional: return
default if name doesn't exist |
| globals() |
Return dict of global names in the current namespace |
| hasattr(object, name) |
True if object has the specified attribute
(name) |
| isinstance(object, class-or-type) |
True if object is an instance of the specified class (or
its subclasses) or type; optional: specify multiple classes or
types using a tuple |
| issubclass(C, B) |
True if class C is a subclass of class B;
optional: specify multiple classes using a tuple |
| iter(iterable) |
Return an iterator over iterable |
| len(object) |
Return number of items in a sequence or dict |
| locals() |
Return dictionary of local names in the current namespace |
| max(iterable), max(a, b, c, ...) |
Return largest item of iterable or argument list |
| min(iterable), min(a, b, c, ...) |
Return smallest item of iterable or argument list |
| ord(char) |
Return the ASCII value of a one-character string |
| range([start,] stop[, step]) |
Return a list of integers from 0 up to (but not
including) stop |
|
|
| raw_input([prompt]) |
Return a string from standard input (usually something the user
types), not including the newline character |
| repr(object) |
Return canonical string representation of object |
| round(number[, ndigits]) |
Return floating-point number rounded to nearest integer |
| setattr(object, name, value) x.y = v |
Set object's attribute to the specified value |
| sorted(iterable[, cmp [, key [, reverse]) |
Return a new sorted list; optional: cmp and key
take functions as arguments; reverse=True |
| sum(iterable[, start=0]) |
Return the sum of all elements of iterable; does not
work with strings |
| unichr(integer) |
Return a Unicode string corresponding to integer, which
must be between 0 and 0x10ffff |
| xrange([start,] stop[, step]) |
Return an iterable that generates a range from 0 up to
(but not including) stop |
| zip([iter1 [, iter2 [, ...]]]) |
Take zero or more iterables and return a list of tuples that
group the items at a particular index number; the list returned is
the same length as the shortest iterable |
