Hello World in Python

Question

I tried running a python script:

print "Hello, World!"

And I get this error:

  File "hello.py", line 1
    print "Hello, World!"
                        ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

What is going on?

I suspect this will become the most-frequently-asked Python question for the next couple of years. — Greg Hewgill, Jul 03 '09 at 00:57
Just a thought: Python 3.0 should come with "Py3k warnings" on by default. Think of how many thousands of SO/newsgroup questions could be prevented by doing this. — RexE, Jul 03 '09 at 01:59
Yes, something as simple as the warning on ubuntu linux - which pops up when you type a command whose executable isn't installed - telling you how to install it and what command to use. — viksit, Jul 16 '09 at 20:21
First time I see somebody asking a question about how to implement "Hello World" in a language. Makes you wonder what that says about the language if that's causing people trouble already... (since it's usually given as the first code example in any introduction). — Peladao, Dec 13 '11 at 21:07
Why can't it be simple as that? - print "Ukinayo" - Makes the world perfectly round. — Jayson Ragasa, Jul 18 '13 at 20:11

score 186 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 07 '12 at 06:19

186

print("Hello, World!")

You are probably using Python 3.0, where print is now a function (hence the parenthesis) instead of a statement.

edited Sep 07 '12 at 06:19

Christian.K

answered Jul 03 '09 at 00:28

Unknown

1

Thank you, this worked. I don't know why this isn't more common knowledge, because I just copy-pasted from the first Google result for Python Hello World. – MiffTheFox Jul 03 '09 at 00:29
1

"requires parenthesis" is not really the adequate explanation as to the change from 2.x to 3 :) – Paolo Bergantino Jul 03 '09 at 00:29
15

@MiffTheFox: Python 2.x uses print as a statement. The relatively new Python 3 made print a function instead. The majority of Python programmers are still using 2.x because of its extensive library and framework support, so 3.0 isn't nearly as adopted as you'd expect for now. – Paolo Bergantino Jul 03 '09 at 00:31
2

@paulo, its the most succinct. If I had said, it is now a function, I would have to then explain what the difference between a statement and an expression is and how a function fits into the whole picture. – Unknown Jul 03 '09 at 00:34
3

They should have a special error message for cases like this with a bit more explanation. With all the documentation out there for Python 2, this kind of incompatible syntax change is bound to frustrate the uninitiated a lot. – Thilo Jul 03 '09 at 01:06
Well, this certainly seems like a step in the wrong direction! – Andrew Johnson Jul 03 '09 at 01:43
@Andrew: in what sense is this a step in the wrong direction? Now that print is a function, it can be treated like all other functions (and can thus be passed around, etc.) – Stephan202 Jul 14 '09 at 14:35

score 115 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 08 '17 at 14:08

115

Unfortunately the xkcd comic isn't completely up to date anymore.

Since Python 3.0 you have to write:

print("Hello world!")

And someone still has to write that antigravity library :(

edited Feb 08 '17 at 14:08

Community

answered Jul 14 '09 at 11:49

Christian

39

http://svn.python.org/view/python/trunk/Lib/antigravity.py?view=markup&pathrev=66902 – Blixt Jul 14 '09 at 11:58
3

Whoa... your xkcd reference even has the hovertext. Is that xkcd's doing or yours? – inetknght Feb 27 '14 at 18:42
3

@inetknght: If you look at the markup behind the post you see how the hovertext is done. – Christian Feb 27 '14 at 19:09
@inetknght the `title` attribute in `` tag has been used for that purpose. – KNU Nov 14 '14 at 12:39
@KNU : Markdown has no tag. The formatting works differently. – Christian Nov 14 '14 at 15:02

score 16 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 24 '14 at 18:44

16

In python 3.x. you use

print("Hello, World")

In Python 2.x. you use

print "Hello, World!"

edited Dec 24 '14 at 18:44

UNITYSD GME

answered Dec 13 '11 at 17:20

Anish Gupta

3 Answers3