1.8 Keywords

In Python, keywords are reserved words that have a special predefined meaning and cannot be used as identifiers (e.g., variable names, function names). Keywords are the building blocks of Python syntax and structure.

Most keywords are explained on a different page, so the “Context” column will link to the details.

partly exam relevant

The keywords match, case, default, pass, yield, nonlocal, assert, async, and await are not exam relevant. Some of the others are also only partly or for some departments exam relevant.

Context	Keyword	Description
Datatype	False	Boolean value representing False.
Datatype	True	Boolean value representing True.
Datatype	None	Represents the absence of a value or a null value.
Operator	and	Logical AND operator. True if all operands are True.
Operator	or	Logical OR operator. True if at least one operand is True.
Operator	not	Logical NOT operator. Negates a boolean value.
Operator	in	Checks if an element exists in a sequence or collection. Also used to iterate a variable in a for loop.
Variable	is	Check if two objects have the same identity (=location in memory).
Variable	del	Delete an object, variable, or items from a collection.
Variable	global	Declares a variable as global, accessible outside the current scope.
Variable	nonlocal	Refers to a variable in the nearest enclosing scope (not global).
Flow Control	if	Defines a conditional statement.
Flow Control	elif	Conditional branching; short for “else if”.
Flow Control	else	Defines the block of code to execute if the if condition is False. Also has a special use-case in the context of while, for and except.
Flow Control	match	Used for pattern matching. Executes blocks of code based on the structure or value of an expression.
Flow Control	case	Defines a block within a match statement, representing a specific case to match a value or pattern.
Flow Control	default	Used in a match statement to handle no case is matching.
Flow Control	while	Defines a loop that continues as long as the condition is True.
Flow Control	for	Defines a loop that iterates over a sequence.
Flow Control	break	Terminates/jumps after the nearest enclosing loop.
Flow Control	continue	Skips the remaining code in a loop iteration and moves to the next iteration.
Flow Control	pass	Placeholder statement that does nothing.
Function	def	Defines a new function or method.
Function	lambda	Defines an anonymous/inline function.
Function	return	Exits a function and optionally passes back a value.
Function	yield	Pauses a function, returning a value, and allows it to be resumed later (used in generators).
OOP	class	Defines a new function or class.
Exception	try	Defines a block of code to test for exceptions.
Exception	except	Defines how to handle exceptions in a try block.
Exception	finally	Defines cleanup code that always runs after try or except blocks.
Exception	raise	Used to raise exceptions manually.
Exception	assert	Debugging tool, if the condition is False, it will throw an exception.
Exception	with	Context Manager to properly enter and exit resources like files.
Import	import	Imports a module or specific components from a module.
Import	from	Specifies the module from which to import.
Import / Exception	as	Used for creating aliases/alternative names.
Asynchronous	async	Used to define asynchronous functions (coroutines).
Asynchronous	await	Used to pause execution in asynchronous functions until a result is available.

Questions

• What is a keyword? Explain in your own words.