Is Python Case-sensitive When Dealing With Identifiers

Yes, Python is indeed case-sensitive when it comes to identifiers such as variable names, function names, class names, and other user-defined names. This means that Python treats identifiers with different casing (uppercase and lowercase letters) as distinct and separate entities.

For example, the following code demonstrates the case-sensitive nature of Python identifiers:

variable_name = 42
Variable_name = "Hello, World!"

print(variable_name)    # Output: 42
print(Variable_name)    # Output: Hello, World!
Code language: Python (python)

In this code, variable_name and Variable_name are treated as two separate identifiers due to the difference in casing.

It’s important to consistently use the same casing for identifiers throughout your code to avoid confusion and errors.

What are the rules of identifiers in Python?

Identifiers are names used to identify variables, functions, classes, modules, and other objects. Here are the rules that govern how identifiers can be formed:

  1. Character Set: Identifiers can be composed of letters (both uppercase and lowercase), digits, and underscores (_).
  2. First Character: An identifier must start with a letter (uppercase or lowercase) or an underscore (_). It cannot start with a digit.
  3. Subsequent Characters: After the initial character, the identifier can contain letters, digits, and underscores.
  4. Case Sensitivity: Python identifiers are case-sensitive, which means that names with different casing are considered distinct.
  5. Reserved Words: You cannot use Python’s reserved words (keywords) as identifiers. These words have special meanings in Python and are used to define the language’s syntax. For example, if, else, while, for, def, class, etc.
  6. Length: Identifiers can be of any length, but it’s recommended to keep them reasonably short for the sake of readability.

Here are some examples to illustrate valid and invalid identifiers:

Valid identifiers:

  • my_variable
  • _private_variable
  • counter1
  • ClassName
  • module_name

Invalid identifiers:

  • 123variable (starts with a digit)
  • my-variable (contains a hyphen)
  • if (a reserved word)
  • Class Name (contains a space)

Remember that following naming conventions and using meaningful names for identifiers can greatly improve the readability and maintainability of your code.

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  • Muhammad Nabil

    I am a skilled and experienced Python developer with a huge passion for programming and a keen eye for details. I earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering in 2019 from the Modern Academy for Engineering and Technology. I am passionate about helping programmers write better Python code, and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to any team. I am also a creative thinker who can come up with new and innovative ways to improve the efficiency and readability of code. My specialization includes Python, Django, SQL, Apache NiFi, Apache Hadoop, AWS, and Linux (CentOS and Ubuntu). Besides my passion for Python, I am a solo traveler who loves Pink Floyd, online video games, and Italian pizza.

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