Python Built-in Functions

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

Built-in Functions

note

There are several built-in functions in Python.

See built-in functions reference for a complete and detailed list of available 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.

note

ascii() escapes the non-ASCII characters in the string

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.

note

sep, end, file, and flush, if present, must be given as keyword arguments.

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-