Keyword Module in Python


Python is famous for its simple language and useful tools that help people make lots of different computer programs. Today, we will explore one of the parts already included in Python – the keyword module. This tool helps programmers use Python words more easily. Keywords are certain words in Python that have a specific purpose and cannot be used in certain ways, like as variable names or function names.

Introduction to Keyword Module

Python's keyword module offers tools for managing the language's keywords. A list of all the keywords is included, along with functions to determine whether a string qualifies as a keyword and to display the entire list of keywords.

The set of keywords in Python can differ across versions, so this module is useful for ensuring code compatibility. If you've ever longed to see all the keywords in your current Python version or determine whether a name is a keyword, the keyword module is your buddy.

Uses of the Keyword Module

The Python keyword module provides two main functionalities −

  • Kwlist  It is a list including every Python keyword. You can use this list to determine whether a given string is a Python keyword.

  • iskeyword()  This function determines whether a string is a keyword in Python. If the string is a Python keyword, it returns True; otherwise, it returns False. It accepts a string as input.

Examples of Keyword Module Usage

Let's observe how the keyword module is used. Here are two real-world instances.

Example 1: Checking if a String is a Python Keyword

To check whether a string is a Python keyword in this example, we'll use the iskeyword() method.

Example

import keyword

def check_keyword(word):
   if keyword.iskeyword(word):
      print(word, "is a Python keyword")
   else:
      print(word, "is not a Python keyword")

check_keyword('if')
check_keyword('hello')

The code above defines the method check_keyword() to determine whether a word is a keyword. A word's status as a keyword is determined using the keyword.iskeyword() function. Running the code produces the following results:

Output

if is a Python keyword
hello is not a Python keyword

Example 2: Printing All Python Keywords

To print out all the Python keywords in this case, we will use the kwlist command.

import keyword

print("Python keywords are: ")
for word in keyword.kwlist:
   print(word)

Output

Running this code will print out all the keywords in your Python version.

Python keywords are: 
False
None
True
and
as
assert
async
await
break
class
continue
def
del
elif
else
except
finally
for
from
global
if
import
in
is
lambda
nonlocal
not
or
pass
raise
return
try
while
with
yield

Conclusion

The Python language's keyword module is a straightforward but crucial component. For developers, especially when utilising several Python versions, its capacity to handle and manage Python's keywords makes it indispensable.

You may avoid potential issues brought on by inadvertently utilising a keyword as an identifier in your code by using the kwlist list and the iskeyword() function.

Even though it may appear insignificant in compared to other significant libraries like NumPy or Pandas, grasping all aspects of Python is essential, as demonstrated by understanding the functionalities of the keyword module. After all, gaining a solid foundation in Python programming is the first step in becoming an expert.

Updated on: 17-Jul-2023

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