Python Newbie hello world (Why???)

Question

I am trying to do Hello World in Python but:

 print "Hello World"

keeps giving me a syntax error. Why is this, i am using python 3.2...

Were you following a tutorial or just trying to do hello world? If you were following a python 3.2 tutorial, I would think it would show the proper print() syntax — jdi, Mar 25 '12 at 21:13
The example you've given is perfectly valid for all versions of Python prior to version 3.0; In classic Python print was a statement rather than a function. In Python 3.0 and later print is a function, and thus requires that you enclose its argument list in paretheses. In fact the only way that Python's interpreter knows that it should treat a word as a callable object (function, method, class instantiation, etc) is by the presences of the subsequent () expression. The old treatment of print, as a statement, was a wart and one that Guido had wanted to remove for a long time. — Jim Dennis, Mar 25 '12 at 21:18

score 7 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 25 '12 at 21:12

7

In Python 3.2, print is a function.

print("Hello World")

answered Mar 25 '12 at 21:12

Makoto

2

@Elliot: The other thing. A statement. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Mar 25 '12 at 21:13
@Makoto "merely" a statement :) – icyrock.com Mar 25 '12 at 21:14
@ElliotBonneville A statement. – Austin Henley Mar 25 '12 at 21:14

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 25 '12 at 21:12

4

Use:

print("Hello World")

That is a Python 3 command, while

print "Hello World"

is a Python 2 command

If the book that you are using only has Python 2 things, get a new book!

answered Mar 25 '12 at 21:12

Billjk

3

Neither is a "command". They are a function and a statement, respectively. – Andrew Barber Mar 27 '12 at 22:44

2 Answers2