Differences Between Python 3 vs Python 2
Python 3 is an upgraded python programming version from that of python 2. There are many notable differences or improvements observed in the python 3 versions. A few of them are the syntax in Python 3 has been made simpler than python 2. In python 3, exception arguments are represented by using the parenthesis, which was not there in previous versions; python 3 has print as a function, whereas python 2 had print as a statement. In python 2, when two integers are divided, the resulting value was shown as an integer as well, but python 3 allows float value results too, and the range() function is newly introduced in python 3, which was not present in previous versions.
Head to Head Comparison Between Python 3 and Python 2 (Infographics)
Below is the Top 8 comparison between Python 3 and Python 2:
Key Differences Between Python 3 and Python 2
Let us discuss some of the major differences between Python 3 and Python 2:
- Python 3 has been broadly supported for developing a wide range of GUI applications, and many other packages are available in Python 3 as compared to Python 2.
- In Python 3, a print function has been used means arguments should be enclosed in parenthesis. E.g. print (“This is Python 3”). In Python 2, a print is treated as a statement. E.g. print “This is Python”.
- In Python 3, the value of integers division would be appropriate by default. E.g. divide 5/2 will result in 2.5. In Python 2, we need to provide data type as a float if the output will come in decimal; otherwise, only the result will come in an integer only. E.g. 5/2 give result 2.
- In Python 3, text and data have been used. Unicode (UTF-8) is a default encoding source for python 3, and str represented as length 1 string. In python 2, str represented as the length 8-bit string.
- In Python 3, Syntax changes are done to make the programming language more effective and easy for the developers compared to Python 2.
- In Python 3, we need to use the “as” keyword for handling or catching exceptions. E.g. except for Error as err (except some exception as a variable). In Python 2, we need to use ‘,’ for the same. E.g. except Error, err (except some exception, err).
- In Python 3, we need to use it to raise Error (“Message for error”) to raise exceptions. The italic syntax donated as (raise exception (args)). In python 2, syntax used as raise Error, “message”. The italic syntax donated as (raise exception, args).
- In Python 3, new built-in functions are included; some are removed and renamed as compared to Python 2.
Python 3 has been developed in such a way that Python 3 is incompatible with Python 2.
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Comparison Table Python 3 and Python 2
Following is the comparison table between Python 3 and Python 2.
| Basis Of Comparisons Between Python 3 vs Python 2 | Python 3 | Python 2 |
| Function Print | A print is a function. | A print is A statement. |
| Division of Integers | When two integers divided, they will get float value if required. | When two integers divided, always give integer value only. |
| Unicode | Default storing strings as Unicode (UTF-8). | To store as Unicode, need to label with ”u”. |
| Syntax Changes | Syntax becomes simpler and easily understandable. | Syntax was quite difficult to python3. |
| Comparisons | Rules of ordering comparisons have been simplified. | It’s more complexed than python 3. |
| Iterators and lists | Range() function introduced for iterations. | xrange() is used for iterations. |
| Leak of variables | The value of variables doesn’t leak. | The value of the global variable got changed while using that in for-loop. |
| Exceptions | Exception argument should be enclosed in parenthesis. | Exception argument can be enclosed in notations. |
Conclusion
Python 3 vs Python are getting used widely in an organization as per their requirements. Python 2.X is widely used as it is stable for a long time. Python 3.X is also getting into a notice of developers. Developers used to go with Python 2 as from python 2 to python 3 transitioning is happening, and some of the libraries are not available in Python 3, which is very helpful in python 2.
Python is a general-purpose programming language that is easily understandable. Developers can write the code effectively. If you are a beginner, it’s a great language to start with, which helps you in gaining confidence in this field. It doesn’t matter which version to use, python 2 or python 3. Python 3 is growing at a good pace with its stable releases, and it is definitely the next language to work.
The above description can give you a good idea of the difference between Python 3 vs Python 2 versions. It will not be a surprise if python will be the most desired language among IT companies and programmers in the coming years.
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