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Tutorial Reference

Python Built-in Functions

Learn about Python's built-in functions, including common functions such as abs(), ascii(), int(), len(), max(), min(), and print().

Python built-in functions are functions whose functionality is pre-defined and that are always available.

Built-in Functions

Let's see some of the most common built-in functions.

abs()

The abs() function returns the absolute value of a number.

print(abs(1))  # 1
print(abs(-1)) # 1

print(abs(1.23))  # 1.23
print(abs(-1.23)) # 1.23
print(abs(0b10))  # 2
print(abs(0o20))  # 16

Output:

1
1
1.23
1.23
2
16

ascii()

The ascii() function returns a string with a printable representation of an object.

print(ascii('A')) # 'A'
print(ascii('a')) # 'a'
print(ascii('è')) # '\xe8'
print(ascii(['A', 'è'])) # ['A', '\xe8']

Output:

'A'
'a'
'\xe8'
['A', '\xe8']

int()

The int() function returns an integer object constructed from a number or string.

from_integer = int(123)
print(type(from_integer)) # <class 'int'>
print(from_integer)       # 123

from_float = int(-3.14)
print(type(from_float))  # <class 'int'>
print(from_float)        # -3

from_string = int("123")
print(type(from_string)) # <class 'int'>
print(from_string)       # 123

Output

<class 'int'>
123
<class 'int'>
-3
<class 'int'>
123

len()

The len() function returns the length (i.e. the number of items) of an object.

print(len('Tutorial Reference'))   # 18
print(len(['a string', 10, 1.23])) # 3
print(len([])) # 0

Output

18
3
0

max()

The max() function returns the largest item in an iterable.

# max() with Lists
print(max([1,10, 100, 20, -5])) # 100

# max() with Tuples
print(max((1,10, 100, 20, -5))) # 100

Output

100
100

min()

The min() function returns the smallest item in an iterable.

# min() with Lists
print(max([1,10, 100, 20, -5])) # -5

# min() with Tuples
print(max((1,10, 100, 20, -5))) # -5

Output

-5
-5

print()

The print() function print objects to the text stream file, separated by sep separator and followed by end string.

print('Hello world!') # Hello world!

name = 'Tom'
print('Hello,', name) # Hello, Tom

print('red', 'green', 'blue', sep='@') # red@green@blue

print('red', end=':)') # red:)
print('red', 'red', end=':)') # red red:)

colors = ['red', 'gree', 'blue', 'yellow', 'violet']
for color in colors:
     print(color, end='-')
# red-gree-blue-yellow-violet-

Output

Hello world!
Hello, Tom
red@green@blue
red:)
red red:)
red-gree-blue-yellow-violet-
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