Here's what the steps look like to learn Python in the best way possible:
If you've made up your mind about learning Python programming, let me assure you about one thing - you've made a good decision. As someone who's been in the programming education scene for over a decade, we can guarantee you can't go wrong with Python.
Let's address something first.
Learning to code isn't easy. Starting with Python makes the journey more manageable but, unlike many online resources claim, it's not a walk in the park.
That said, a proper roadmap/learning path definitely helps make the journey easier.
So, if you're looking for a specific pathway to learn Python adopted by thousands of coding beginners, this is the guide for you.
If you're reading this guide, it means you're already familiar with Python and its applications. If not (and you’re curious), our Everything You Need to Know About Python article has you covered.
Now, let’s jump into the steps to learn Python in the best way possible:
Step 1: Master Python Fundamentals
Step 2: Practice By Building Projects
Step 3: Learn to Love Error Messages
Step 4: Get an Internship or a Job as Early as Possible
Let's talk about all of these in detail:
Like a building’s foundation, coding fundamentals serve as your base for writing computer code and becoming a proficient programmer.
There’s often confusion among beginners about what fundamental concepts to actually focus on. For that, you can do this:
The course includes every concept you need to understand as a beginner in Python and start your programming journey.
These fundamentals remain the same in all programming languages. If you understand these concepts well, you can easily switch between languages.
Variables are containers to store data like numbers and texts. For example,
x = 5Here, x is a named variable that stores the value 5.
Learn more about Python Variables.
Conditional statements allow us to create programs that behave differently under different conditions. For example,
if age >= 18:
print("You can vote.")
else:
print("You cannot vote.")Learn more about Python Control Flow.
Loops allow us to repeat a block of code multiple times. For example, if you have to print a text 100 times, you can use a loop instead of typing the text 100 times.
count = 1
while count <= 100:
print("Print this 100 times")
count = count + 1Learn more about Python Loops.
Functions help us divide our program into smaller chunks to make it easier to use and understand. For example, to create a program that can draw circles and rectangles and color them, we can use 3 functions:
1. function to create a rectangle
def create_rectangle():2. function to create a circle
def create_circle():function to color the shape
def color_shape():Learn more about Python Functions.
Data Types allow us to work with numerous datasets at once. For example, Python lists help us store multiple elements together and allow us to work with them.
odd_numbers = [1, 3, 5, 7]Learn more about Python Data Types.
Mastering fundamentals doesn’t mean only reading tutorials or sitting through a two-hour-long YouTube video. To truly master the fundamentals, you have to understand how each concept works and its use cases.
Here’s a few tips to follow while learning the fundamentals:
1. Learn the concept
First, learn each concept theoretically through tutorials or courses. Understand the what and the how behind every concept.
For example, while learning Python variables on Programiz PRO, you’ll first learn about what variables actually are — the what.
You’ll then learn to use the variables through syntax and examples — the how.
With this flow, you’ll get a clear understanding of what a concept is, how it works, and how to use it.
Don’t focus on memorizing the code or the syntax at this stage. Instead, focus on how the logic and syntax of the code actually works.
2. Develop a mental model
After understanding what a concept is and how to work with it, the next step is to understand how it actually works within the code you write.
Python (and coding in general) can be full of abstractions, and beginners often struggle with these.
If we take variables as an example, it’s not enough to understand only what variables are and how to create them. You also have to understand how they change values within your code.
On Programiz PRO, you’ll find a visualizer paired with every new concept. This helps you develop a visual model about how each concept works underneath the hood.
It’s crucial to understand the more abstract parts of Python if you want to have a smooth learning experience.
3. Practice and write code yourself
We’ve always said that you cannot learn to code without actually writing code yourself.
So, after learning the theory of a concept, you should solve challenges and put your learnings into practice.
If you’re learning on Programiz PRO, after the theory, you’ll have to solve the quizzes and practice problems built into the course. These tasks will help you practice, build your muscle memory, and test your understanding.
At the start, you’ll make a lot of mistakes — this is natural. So, try to understand why you made those mistakes.
On Programiz PRO, if you make a mistake during your quizzes or practice problems, you’ll get a hint about where you went wrong. Read those, and try again.
The goal here is to write code yourself for every new concept you learn. If you’re just reading a course or tutorial without any hands-on practice, you’ll feel like you accomplished something significant — but it’ll only be a false sense of accomplishment.
So, it’s important to build a habit of writing code yourself whenever you come across a new concept or an example code. And, if you’re learning through online resources, choose the ones which provide you with hands-on coding experience and force you to write code as you go.
This is the hard way to learn Python. But it’s also the right way.
Solving quizzes and challenges will help you revise the fundamentals. After this, you should be combining all the fundamentals and building something of your own — projects.
With projects, you’ll understand how to turn theory into practice. While building projects, you’ll make small mistakes, like:
These will make you go crazy. However, once you put some effort into fixing those errors, you’ll have a real world experience of how coding works.
While building projects, make sure you’re doing it the right way. If you go to the Rock Paper Scissors project in Programiz PRO, you can see how we’ve created a step-by-step approach to building projects.
1. First, understand the entire workflow of the game.
2. Create a project description based on the workflow
These two steps are important while creating the logic of the project.
Next, you need to figure out how you’ll approach the project.
Programming is all about problem-solving, and approaching a problem the right way is as important as finding a solution. So, dont directly jump to writing code — take some time to understand the problem and the scope of the project.
One of the best ways to solve a problem is to break it down into smaller sub-problems. This will reduce the complexity, letting you tackle one small problem at a time.
Based on the Rock-Paper-Scissors game description, we can divide the game into:
With all this information, it’ll be much easier for us to start the project. This process — defining the overall scope and roadmap — is what we call ‘Building a thought process.’
Once you’re done with the project, make changes to your code and see how the output changes with it.
Play around with your code as many times as you want. Remember: the goal is to understand how the code reacts to each change.
So far, we’ve talked about learning, practicing, and building — the positive parts of learning Python.
Now,, let’s talk about errors.
At Programiz, we’ve discovered two patterns in how people deal with errors:
Pattern 1: You face errors when you’re solving a practice problem. You try to make changes to your code but then you face other errors. Eventually, you leave that problem, move to a new chapter, and complete the course.
Pattern 2: You face errors when you’re solving a practice problem. You try to make changes but face other errors. But, instead of skipping the problem, you keep trying to fix it until you either solve the problem or you get frustrated by it.
Among these two groups, we’ve found that people who fall under pattern 1 struggle later in their careers.
If you think for a second, it's obvious why.
Programming is problem-solving. You can’t succeed if you’re not putting effort into understanding errors and solving them.
So, we urge you to fix your errors. Here are some steps to follow to do so:
Stack Overflow and Google are good places to search for help if you can’t fix the issue on your own. However, an even better approach in this scenario would be to get help from AI tools like sensAI.
For example, suppose you write this code
def add_numbers(n1, n2)
result = n1 + n2
print("The sum is", result)
number1 = 5
number2 = 6
add_numbers(number1, number2)If you run this code inside the Programiz PRO compiler, you will get an error message.
First, try to understand why you get the error and fix your code.
But as a beginner, it'll be a bit difficult to understand the error. In that case, you can use sensAI.
However, don't just copy-paste the fixed code. Read the entire explanation and understand why you get that error.
Compare both the error code and the fixed code. Here, you have missed the colon, which is a small mistake anyone can make.
But, now you have spent so much time exploring this error, you are less likely to make this error in the future.
Don’t give up on errors. It’s okay to not understand new errors as they show up — that’s a sign you’re making progress and trying something new.
Programiz Recommends
While fixing errors, don’t just directly jump to finding solutions. Spend at least 5 minutes solving it on your own. This way, you’ll at least understand the error message.
Internships and jobs are crucial in your programming journey because there’s only so much you can learn through your course, no matter how great your courses are.
You have to aim to start working on real work, real projects that people pay to use as soon as you can.
So, try to get an internship or a job as early as possible. They will speed up your learning because:
Here are a few things to do to get jobs and internships early:
1. Build your portfolio
Create as many real-world projects as you can and host them on GitHub. Create your own GitHub profile and store all your projects there.
If you don't know what GitHub is, read this article:An Intro to Git and GitBuh for Beginners.
Tips:
2. Gain Certification
When learning through online resources, go for the ones that provide certifications — valid certifications that add value to your resume.
The ‘Become a Python Master’ certification from Programiz is provided only after you complete the following 5 courses:
When you’re just starting your tech career, certifications are the only thing that show you know what you’re talking about.
Apart from these steps, here are a few tips to make your Python learning experience more effective:
You can read all the tutorials in the world, watch all the YouTube courses there are, and complete all the Python courses out there, but you won’t get anywhere near to mastering Python if you don’t write code yourself.
If you find yourself reading and watching multiple tutorials and videos on the same topic, you’re in tutorial hell. Writing code yourself is the only way to get out of it, even if it’s just a simple program to add two numbers.
You don’t have to memorize all the syntax when learning Python. Just understand what each syntax does — you can always look them up later if you forget.
Even the most experienced developers don’t remember all the syntax, they just Google them.
Instead, your focus should be on building your logical thinking to solve problems. Try solving a problem logically before actually getting down to write code.
Googling is an important skill used by all professional developers every day. How quickly you can google things determines how quickly you can solve a problem.
Also, using Google is not something to be ashamed about. No programmer can remember every syntax, every type of error.
You should focus more on what needs to be done — you can always Google how to do it.
Don’t code for 10 hours one day and stay idle for the next 4 days. Code daily, even if just for half an hour.
Also, don’t give up due to errors. Always try your best to solve errors, no matter how long it takes.
Find ways to make learning Python something you want to keep going back to.
Take a break once in a while. Declutter your mind.
Remember: you’re in it for the long run. You have to enjoy the process if you want to stay in it for long.
Don’t hesitate to ask help from your seniors, colleagues, and online communities. The coding community is one of the best out there, and no issue is small or silly.
With how accessible AI tools are now, it’s much easier to ask question and get answers.
AI is getting better with each passing day, and this means it’s a reliable resource for learning Python. You can use AI to explain your code, identify errors, understand error messages, and even fix your code.
AI tools come in different forms. Some like ChatGPT are standalone whereas tools like Programiz PRO’s sensAI and Microsoft’s Copilot are integrated within various products and courses.
There will come a time when you will question your decision to learn Python. No matter how determined you are, this will happen.
At times like these, having like-minded people helps a lot. They can help you get through that phase and guide you for your future steps.
You can also give and get feedback on your code and projects (probably the best thing about the Python community).
If you want to find some great Python communities, Discord and Reddit are two great platforms to start your hunt. Search, explore a few, and if you like the posts there, join them.
If you’re looking to learn Python online, you can be easily overwhelmed by how many resources there are. Finding the best resource is subjective because it depends on your learning style.
So, let's find the right resource for you.
If you need a proper pathway and enjoy getting hands-on when learning to code, Programiz PRO is the right resource for you.
On Programiz PRO, you can learn Python through our Master Python Learning Path. It’s a career path that’ll take you from the basics of Python to more advanced topics.
The learning path consists of courses for
Similarly, each course teaches you Python with
You can unlock this course, plus the rest of our platform, with a single subscription — no tiered plans, no complications — with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Apart from Programiz, here are some other resources you can explore:
The resource you pick is crucial to how well you’ll learn Python, so, don’t rush into this decision. Think about how you learn best and pick accordingly.
Considering different factors, it can take around 3 - 6 months to learn Python from scratch. However, after 2 months of learning, we highly recommend you start looking for a job or internship.
If you want to understand different factors that influence the timeframe of learning Python, visit the blog, How long does it take to learn Python?
The shor answer is YES. However, there are a few tings you need to consider if you are learning Python on your own.
First of all, choose a proper pathway and a learning style you want to adopt. Our suggestion is to go for a hands-on approach that encourages you to write code on your own.
Have a goal to land a job in Python. You don't have to do the job, just have a goal. It will boost your confidence for the future.
After learning Python, you can apply for the following jobs:
At Programiz, we always recommend starting with Python if anyone is not sure about where to start. Here are some of the reasons why Python is an excellent first language:
While a set roadmap to learn Python definitely helps, the more important thing is to practice and write code yourself. That’s what we’ve been telling you throughout this blog.
So, if you’re ready to start learning, we recommend you give our Python Basics course a shot. It’s free to get started with and gives you a really hands-on experience learning Python.