前言 Front Matter

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for rapid application development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components together. Python's simple, easy to learn syntax emphasizes readability and therefore reduces the cost of program maintenance. Python supports modules and packages, which encourages program modularity and code reuse. The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are available in source or binary form without charge for all major platforms, and can be freely distributed.

Python是一种解释性的，面向对象的，具有动态语义的高级程序设计语言。它内建高级数据结构，配以动态类型和动态捆绑，使其在快速应用开发中非常有利，就像脚本或粘合语言一样将已存在的构件连接在一起。Python的简单性和句法的易学性使其代码具有优秀的可读牲，因此维护程序的成本得以大大降低。Python具有模块和包的概念，以支持程序的模块化和代码重用。在主流平台上， Python的解释器和大量标准库都可以免费地以源代码形式或可执行文件形式获得，并且可以自由发布。

This reference manual describes the syntax and ``core semantics'' of the language. It is terse, but attempts to be exact and complete. The semantics of non-essential built-in object types and of the built-in functions and modules are described in the Python Library Reference. For an informal introduction to the language, see the Python Tutorial. For C or C++ programmers, two additional manuals exist: Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter describes the high-level picture of how to write a Python extension module, and the Python/C API Reference Manual describes the interfaces available to C/C++ programmers in detail.

本参考手册描述了该语言的语法和“核心语义”。手册本身是比较简洁的，但尽可能写得准确和完整。那些非基本的内置对象类型、内置函数和模块的语义在 《Python 库参考》中进行描述。对于语言的浅显介绍，可以看看 《Python 入门手册》. 对于C和C++程序员, 有两个文档可供参考： 《扩展和嵌入Python解释器》 是对Python扩展模块设计的总体介绍； 《Python/C API 参考手册》 则向C/C++程序员们细致地描述了可以使用的接口。