Python Keywords - Python Variables - Python Tutorial

When we name our variables there are a few words we cannot use to name a variable. These words are known as Python Keywords. These thirty three words have some sort of purpose in Python. They are either built-in functions or methods or serve some other purpose. If we try to use one of the Python Keywords we will get an invalid syntax error.

Below you will find the full list of Python Keywords we will not explain what each one does in this tutorial but if one of the words is highlighted in blue you can either hover over the word or click on it for a better explanation.

Python Keywords

and	as	assert
break	class	continue
def	del	elif
else	except	False
finally	for	from
global	if	import
in	is	lambda
None	nonlocal	not
or	pass	raise
return	True	try
while	with	yield

Trying To Assign A Variable a Keyword

Take a look at what happens when assign a variable a keyword. We will get an error. We will look at couple different examples here.

#Trying To Create A Variable using def
>>> def = 3
 File "<stdin>", line 1
 def = 3
 ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

#Trying To Create A Variable using else
>>> else = "Why doesn't this work"
 File "<stdin>", line 1
 else = "Why doesn't this work"
 ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

#Trying To Create A Variable using False
>>> False = 3
 File "<stdin>", line 1
SyntaxError: can't assign to keyword

Access The Python Keywords

We can gain access to the keywords in Python by importing a module called keyword. We have not covered importing of modules yet, but we will in a later tutorial. For now just follow a long this module is easy to use and pretty straight forward.

First We Need To Import The Keyword Module

Open your Python interpreter and we are about import the keyword module. To import a module we simply type import and then the modules name. Follow the example below to import keyword module.

#Import Module

>>> import keyword
>>>
#note we do not get any response when we import a module

Get The Python Keyword List

Here we will use the keyword module to get a list of the Python Keywords in our interpreter. This command only works if you have imported the module.

#Get The Python Keyword List

>>> keyword.kwlist
['False', 'None', 'True', 'and', 'as', 'assert', 'break', 'class', 'continue', 'def', 'del', 'elif', 'else', 'except', 'finally', 'for', 'from', 'global', 'if', 'import', 'in', 'is', 'lambda', 'nonlocal', 'not', 'or', 'pass', 'raise', 'return', 'try', 'while', 'with', 'yield']

Check If A Word Is A Python Keyword Using The Keyword Module

In this example we will use the keyword module again this time we can check is a certain word is a keyword.

#Check If A Word Is A Python Keyword Using The Keyword Module

>>> keyword.iskeyword('else')
True
#note the word needs to be a string

#if we do not use a string we get an error
>>> keyword.iskeyword(else)
 File "<stdin>", line 1
 keyword.iskeyword(else)

You do not need to memorize the Python Keywords as we move on with our Python tutorials you will pick up on the keywords as you learn Python.  If you have any questions or comments leave them below.

 

Python Keywords - Python Variables