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Python Essentials

10 Courses
18 Hours
Skill IQ

Python Essentials equips software developers with the foundational and practical skills needed to write clean, efficient, and scalable Python code. Python is a versatile, high-demand language used across web development, automation, data science, and more. This path covers core programming concepts and professional practices.

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Content in this path

Core Language

Build a strong foundation in Python syntax, structure, and logic.

Course

Python Foundations

  • by Sarah Holderness
  • 2h 41m
  • Jul 18, 2025
Course

Python: Data Structures

  • by Mateo Prigl
  • 1h 56m
  • May 28, 2025
Course

Python: Functions and Modules

  • by Wes Higbee
  • 1h 38m
  • Jul 11, 2025
Course

Python: Object-oriented Programming

  • by Mateo Prigl
  • 1h 40m
  • Aug 22, 2025

Working with Data

Learn to handle files, databases, and data exchange formats.

Course

Python: Regular Expressions

  • by Maaike van Putten
  • 1h 23m
  • May 13, 2025

Development Skills

Gain hands-on experience with debugging, testing, and environments.

Course

Python: Debugging Techniques

  • by Douglas Starnes
  • 1h 33m
  • Jul 16, 2025
Course

Python: Development Environments

  • by Reindert-Jan Ekker
  • 1h 7m
  • Jul 16, 2025

Code Quality

Write clean, maintainable, and efficient Python code.

Course

Python: Performance Optimization

  • by Dan Tofan
  • 1h 51m
  • Jun 11, 2025
Course

Python: Design Patterns

  • by Gerald Britton
  • 2h 48m
  • Jul 22, 2025

Advanced Techniques

Explore deeper paradigms and design strategies for scalable software.

Course

Python: Functional Programming

  • by Gerald Britton
  • 1h 9m
  • Jun 05, 2025
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What You'll Learn
  • Write Python code using core syntax and structures
  • Work with built-in and custom data structures
  • Define and reuse logic using functions and modules
  • Apply object-oriented design principles in Python
  • Read from and write to files effectively
  • Debug Python applications using proven techniques
  • Set up and use development environments efficiently
  • Write and run tests using standard testing tools
  • Connect Python applications to databases and external APIs
  • Improve code quality with clean code, performance tuning, and design patterns
Prerequisites
  • Familiarity with basic programming concepts (variables, loops, conditionals)
Related topics
  • Back-end Development
  • Full-Stack Development
  • Python
  • Automation
  • Web Development
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Learn with the best

Sarah Holderness
Sarah Holderness
Sarah just finished her PhD in Computer Science and in that process found two loves: inventing things and teaching. Working at Pluralsight allows her to do what she loves and work with some amazing people. When she's not teaching she's outside, enjoying the Florida sunshine with her family.
Mateo Prigl
Mateo Prigl
Mateo is currently a full stack web developer working for a company that has clients from Europe and North America. His niche in programming was mostly web oriented, while freelancing, working on small startups and companies that require his services. Go(lang), Elixir, Ruby and C are his favorite languages and also the ones he’s mostly working with other then PHP in day to day work. He has a big passion for learning and teaching what he knows the best. His big interests recently have been the fi...
Wes Higbee
Wes Higbee
Wes Higbee is passionate about helping companies achieve remarkable results with technology and software. He’s had extensive experience developing software and working with teams to improve how software is developed to meet business objectives. Wes launched Full City Tech to leverage his expertise to help companies delight customers. Although his primary focus is on outcomes, implementation often includes technical competency. Wes frequently speaks about impactful aspects of software developm...
Maaike van Putten
Maaike van Putten
Maaike is a software developer, trainer, and founder of Brightboost, a training agency she started in 2014. She combines her deep passion for technology with a love for teaching, helping professionals grow their skills and advance their careers. Over the years, she has trained developers worldwide in Java, Spring, C#, Python, React, Angular, Scrum and more. She specializes in translating complex technical topics into actionable skills for developers and non-tech professionals. She creates both ...
Douglas Starnes
Douglas Starnes
Douglas Starnes is a tech author, professional explainer and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in developer technologies in Memphis, TN. He is published on Pluralsight, Real Python and SkillShare. Douglas is co-director of the Memphis Python User Group, Memphis .NET User Group, Memphis Xamarin User Group and Memphis Power Platform User Group. He is also on the organizing committees of Scenic City Summit in Chattanooga, and TDevConf, a virtual conference in the state of Tennessee. A frequent c...
Reindert-Jan Ekker
Reindert-Jan Ekker
After years of working in software development, Reindert-Jan Ekker switched to teaching programmers in 2010 and never looked back. He authors Pluralsight courses and teaches classes about Python, data science, devops (among others). Even though he squeezes some development jobs in here and there, teaching is his real passion and he is looking forward to share this passion with you.
Dan Tofan
Dan Tofan
Dan started programming decades ago on a Spectrum clone and started his professional programming career in 2003. Eager to learn, Dan moved to Netherlands to study at the University of Groningen. Now, Dan is proud of his PhD thesis on decision making and knowledge acquisition in software architecture, and about a dozen publications with hundreds of citations. Dan used Microsoft technologies for many years, but migrated gradually to Python, Linux and AWS, to learn more of the computing world. Cur...
Gerald Britton
Gerald Britton
Gerald Britton is a Pluralsight author and expert on Python programming practices and Microsoft SQL Server development and administration.  A multiple-year of the Microsoft MVP award, Gerald has led introductory classes in Python and SQL for industry-sponsored events at Ryerson University, Toronto and the University of Toronto (his alma mater). 

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