coderz.py

Python is one of the programming languages that has boosted the world of technology to new heights. Python 2 and Python 3 were the two major versions of Python that were introduced to the world. Even though they are both different versions of the same programming language, there are significant differences between the two, and it would be fascinating to examine the differences between Python 2 and Python 3.

Python 3 has an extensive library and can be easily integrated with other languages. As a result, the need for both Python versions is easily understood. Finally, efforts were made to make Python 3 support many of the major functionalities that Python 2 provided, and Python 2 was decommissioned in 2020.

Important Differences between Python 2 and Python 3:

Basis of comparison	Python 3	Python 2
Release Date	2008	2000
Function print	print (“hello”)	print “hello”
Division of Integers	Whenever two integers are divided, we get a float value	When two integers are divided, we always get an integer value.
Unicode	In Python 3, the default storing of strings is Unicode.	To store Unicode string values, it is required to define them with “u”.
Syntax	The syntax is more straightforward and easily understandable.	The syntax of Python 2 was comparatively difficult to understand.
Rules of ordering Comparisons	In this version, the Rules of ordering comparisons have been simplified.	Rules of ordering comparison are very complex.
Iteration	The new Range() function was introduced to perform iterations.	In Python 2, the xrange() is used for iterations.
Exceptions	It should be enclosed in parentheses.	It should be enclosed in notations.
Leak of variables	The value of variables never changes.	The value of the global variable will change while using it inside a for-loop.
Backward compatibility	Not difficult to port python 2 to python 3 but it is never reliable.	Python version 3 is not backwardly compatible with Python 2.
Library	Many recent developers are creating libraries that we can only use with Python 3.	Many older libraries created for Python 2 are not forward-compatible.

Example:

Python 3

# print function
def main():
  print("Hello World!")

# Division of Integers
print 9/2
# output:4.5


# Error Handling
try: 
    # some statement that may cause error 
except SomeError as err: 
    print(err, "Error Occured")

Python 2

def main():
  print "Hello World!"

# Division of Integers
print 9/2
# output:4

# Error Handling
try: 
    # some statement that may cause error 
except SomeError, err: 
    print err, "Error Occured"

Which Python Version to Use?

Today, the Python 3 version is the clear winner when it comes to Python 2 vs Python 3 differences. Because Python 2 will not be available after 2020. The future points to widespread Python 3 adoption.

After considering the declining support for the Python 2 programming language and the added benefits of upgrading to Python 3, a new developer should always choose Python version 3. However, the only compelling reason to use this version is if a job requires Python 2 capabilities.

Note: also read about Python Installation

Follow Me

Please follow me to read my latest post on programming and technology if you like my post.

https://www.instagram.com/coderz.py/

https://www.facebook.com/coderz.py