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How to Write Pythonic Code: Boost Your Skills Today

Follow These 7 Best Practices for Clean, Elegant Python Code

Max N
2 min readJan 26, 2024

Python sets itself apart from other programming languages with its emphasis on readability, simplicity, and elegance. Learning to write “Pythonic code” that embraces these core principles is key for mastering the language.

In this post, you’ll discover 7 best practices for writing professional-quality Python code that’s efficient, maintainable, and aligned with community style standards. Master these techniques to level up your Python skills today!

1. Use Meaningful Variable/Function Names

Cryptic, abbreviated names might save typing, but they make code nearly impossible to understand. Strive for names that are self-explanatory:

# Good
user_subscription = retrieve_user_subscription(user_id)

# Bad
us = get_sub(uid)

2. Follow PEP8 Style Guidelines

PEP8 is Python’s official style guide. Following its conventions for things like spacing, indentation, naming, etc. makes Python code more consistent and readable.

Some highlights:

  • Use 4 spaces (not tabs) for indentation
  • Limit lines to 79…

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Max N
Max N

Written by Max N

A writer that writes about JavaScript and Python to beginners. If you find my articles helpful, feel free to follow.

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