Python Quick Start

Grow on your schedule with big savings on Coursera Plus. Save 40% for 3 months.

Python Quick Start

Instructor: Madecraft

Included with Learn more

9 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

9 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Write custom Python functions, control program logic with conditionals and loops, and organize data using lists and tuples.
Build classes and objects using inheritance to model real-world systems in working Python code.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 9 modules in this course

Python is one of today's most versatile and in-demand programming languages, used in everything from data analysis and automation to web development and machine learning. Companies across nearly every industry now expect at least a working familiarity with it. If code has felt out of reach until now, this course gives you a clear, practical way in, with no assumed background and no wasted time on filler.

You'll start by setting up a working Python environment and organizing your first pieces of data, then write and call your own Python functions, organize larger collections of data using lists and tuples, and control your program's logic with conditional statements and loops. From there, you'll write recursive functions and build classes and objects, giving you a working foundation in both procedural and object-oriented programming. By the end, you'll be able to write real Python programs from scratch, using functions, data structures, and classes to solve practical problems on your own.

You're standing at the start of a skill that keeps opening doors, no matter which field you work in. In this module, you'll identify what sets Python apart from other languages so you can decide with confidence where it fits into your own goals.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

5 videosTotal 5 minutes

Why Python Is Worth Learning Right Now1 minute
Demystifying Python1 minute
Starting with Python1 minute
Comparing Python vs. Java1 minute
Harnessing the Power of Python1 minute

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Seven Reasons Python Rewards a First-Timer's Effort10 minutes
What Actually Changes When You Swap Python for Java10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Judging Whether Python Fits What You're Building15 minutes

Every line of Python you write has to live somewhere, and every piece of data you work with needs a type it can be trusted to follow. In this module, you'll set up a working Python environment and organize your first pieces of data so you can start writing code that actually runs.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 assignment

The moment you catch yourself typing the same lines of code in three different places, you've found the exact problem functions were invented to solve. In this module, you'll write custom and built-in Python functions so your programs stay organized, reusable, and easy to read as they grow.

What's included

5 videos3 readings2 assignments

5 videosTotal 24 minutes

Defining Functions in Python2 minutes
Using Built-in Functions in Python4 minutes
Building Your Own Functions4 minutes
Distinguishing Types of Functions8 minutes
Using Modules in Python7 minutes

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

The Functions Python Hands You Before You Write a Line10 minutes
The Four Pieces Every Custom Function Needs10 minutes
Four Ways a Function Can Talk Back to You10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 21 minutes

Reading a Function by What It Takes and Gives6 minutes
Turning Repeated Code Into Reusable Functions15 minutes

The moment you need to keep track of more than one piece of related information at a time, a single variable stops being enough. In this module, you'll store collections of data as lists or tuples, choosing the sequence type that matches whether that data should stay changeable or protected.

What's included

3 videos1 reading2 assignments

A program that does the exact same thing no matter what's happening isn't very useful for long. In this module, you'll write conditional statements that direct a program to take different actions based on whether one or more conditions are true.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

4 videosTotal 20 minutes

Defining Conditional Statements1 minute
Working with If Statements4 minutes
Using If-Else Statements4 minutes
If-Elif and If-Elif-Else11 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

The Quiet Type Problem Hiding in Your First If Statement10 minutes
Giving Your Program Somewhere to Go When the Answer Is No10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Making Your Program Respond to What's True15 minutes

Doing the same thing to every item in a list one at a time, by hand, gets old fast, and it doesn't scale past a handful of items. In this module, you'll write for loops and while loops that repeat a set of instructions across a sequence or a range of numbers.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 assignment

A function that calls itself sounds like it should spiral into nonsense, but it's actually one of the cleanest ways to solve a certain kind of problem. In this module, you'll write a recursive function that solves a problem by calling itself on a simpler version of that same problem, using a base case and a recursive case.

What's included

2 videos1 assignment

Bundling related data and behavior together, instead of scattering variables and functions that all secretly depend on each other, changes how a program scales. In this module, you'll build classes and objects, including subclasses that inherit and override behavior from a parent class, to represent real-world things in code.

What's included

2 videos2 assignments

Finishing a course is the beginning of building the habit, not the end of it. In this module, you'll identify concrete next steps and resources for continuing to build your Python skills independently.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

Instructor

Madecraft

111 Courses10,433 learners

Offered by

Madecraft

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Break down barriers to learning with big savings
Get Coursera Plus
Start with easy savings for hard-working teams
Save 30% today

Frequently asked questions

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.