An Introduction to Python & Machine Learning For Technical SEO
What is Python?
Python is an open-source, object-oriented interactive programming language that is interpreted line by line. With simple and easy to learn syntax, as well as advanced readability and support for several modules and libraries, Python is well-loved due to the increased productivity it provides. As a testament to this, Python is used by some of the biggest organizations in the world to power their platforms, perform data analysis, and run their machine learning models.
Companies including Google, YouTube, Netflix, NASA, Spotify, and IBM have publicly stated Python has been an important part of their growth, due to its simplicity, speed, and scalability. In fact, Google's first web-crawler was actually written in Python and it remains one of their official server-side languages. You can run Python scripts in several ways, depending on what works best for you. Most systems come with Python already installed, this will more than likely be Python 3, but you can find out which version you have by typing Python -version in your terminal.
How to learn Python
There are several online tools available for learning Python, and the best method depends on your own learning style. For example, if you are a visual learner and enjoy following along to video coding, then freeCodeCamp is a great place to start. If you work better with a more project-structured learning style then Codecademy and Sololearn are great places to try out. These websites also provide a way to track your learning and start a project portfolio. Some sites gamify the learning journey, such as CodeCombat and Checkio, these provide a great way to build a habit of coding each day, in a fun way. If you prefer to code along with an instructor in real-time and identify as a woman or non-binary, then you can also sign up for a free 8-week course with Code First Girls (disclaimer, I work for Code First Girls).
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