Python Keywords

Keywords are reserved words in Python that have a predefined meaning. They are part of the Python language syntax and cannot be used as variable, function or class names.

Python provides keywords for decision making, loops, functions, classes, exception handling, Boolean operations and other programming tasks.

List of Python Keywords

The following are the Python keywords used in modern Python 3:

Python Keywords with Examples

1. and, or, not

These keywords are used for logical operations.

age = 20

print(age >= 18 and age <= 60)
print(age < 18 or age > 60)
print(not age < 18)

2. if, elif and else

These keywords are used for decision making.

marks = 75

if marks >= 80:
    print("Grade A")
elif marks >= 40:
    print("Pass")
else:
    print("Fail")

Pass

3. for, while, break and continue

These keywords are used to control loops.

for i in range(1, 6):
    if i == 3:
        continue
    if i == 5:
        break
    print(i)

1
2
4

4. def and return

def defines a function and return sends a value back to the calling statement.

def add(a, b):
    return a + b

print(add(10, 20))

30

5. class

The class keyword is used to create a class.

class Student:
    name = "Rahul"

s = Student()
print(s.name)

Rahul

6. import and from

These keywords are used to work with modules.

import math
print(math.sqrt(25))

The from keyword can be used to import a particular object.

from math import sqrt

print(sqrt(36))

7. in and is

in checks membership, while is checks whether two references point to the same object.

numbers = [10, 20, 30]

print(20 in numbers)

a = None
print(a is None)

True
True

8. True, False and None

True and False represent Boolean values. None represents the absence of a value.

x = True
y = False
z = None

print(x)
print(y)
print(z)

9. pass

The pass keyword is used when a statement is required syntactically but no action is needed.

def display():
    pass

10. try, except, else and finally

These keywords are used for exception handling.

try:
    x = 10 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
    print("Cannot divide by zero")
finally:
    print("Program completed")

Cannot divide by zero
Program completed

11. raise

The raise keyword is used to generate an exception manually.

age = 15

if age < 18:
    raise ValueError("Age must be 18 or above")

12. with and as

The with keyword is commonly used for file handling. The as keyword gives a name to the object being used.

with open("data.txt", "r") as file:
    data = file.read()
    print(data)

13. lambda

The lambda keyword creates a small anonymous function.

square = lambda x: x * x

print(square(5))

25

14. del

The del keyword removes an object, variable or item.

numbers = [10, 20, 30]

del numbers[1]

print(numbers)

[10, 30]

15. global

The global keyword allows a function to modify a global variable.

count = 0

def update():
    global count
    count = 10

update()
print(count)

10

16. nonlocal

The nonlocal keyword is used to modify a variable in an enclosing function.

def outer():
    x = 10

    def inner():
        nonlocal x
        x = 20

    inner()
    print(x)

outer()

20

17. assert

The assert keyword checks a condition and raises an AssertionError if the condition is false.

age = 20

assert age >= 18

print("Valid age")

18. yield

The yield keyword is used in a generator function to produce values one at a time.

def numbers():
    yield 1
    yield 2
    yield 3

for n in numbers():
    print(n)

1
2
3

19. async and await

async defines an asynchronous function and await is used to wait for an asynchronous operation.

import asyncio

async def message():
    print("Hello Python")

asyncio.run(message())

20. match and case

match and case are used for structural pattern matching.

day = 2

match day:
    case 1:
        print("Monday")
    case 2:
        print("Tuesday")
    case _:
        print("Other day")

Tuesday

View Python Keywords Using Python

import keyword

print(keyword.kwlist)