Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It helps developers code simple programs to complex, data-heavy software applications. If you’re wondering how long it takes to learn Python, well, it can take anywhere between 2 to 8 months to learn the basics of the language. When we say basics, we refer to the fundamentals — variables, syntax, functions, and data types. Invariably, how long it would take you to learn Python will depend on a few fundamental factors, including the level of mastery you wish to achieve and your general experience with programming, among others.
If you aim to learn Python at a fundamental level, it will take about six weeks. But if you want to learn Python at an advanced level, it can take you several months. As such, to master Python’s huge array of libraries can take as many as several months to a couple of years.
An important influencer of the timeline it takes to learn Python is your understanding of programming languages. If you have a strong grasp of any other Object Oriented Programming Language, you can learn Python more quickly than someone who does not understand OOP languages.
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Let’s go ahead and look at how long it takes to learn Python at basic and advanced levels. We’ll also look at the best way to learn Python and the factors that affect your python learning curve.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
- How Soon Can You Learn Python?
- Can You Learn Python on Your Own?
- Factors That Influence Your Python Learning Curve
- Uses of Python — What Can You Do With It
- Easy Tips to Learn Python
- FAQs on How Long It Takes to Learn Python
How Soon Can You Learn Python?
How long it would take you to learn Python depends on what level of mastery you wish to achieve in the language. As an experienced programmer, it would take you 2-4 months to learn Python.
If you’re a complete beginner, it will take you a lot longer to learn Python, let alone master it. The typical timeline to learn Python if you’re a beginner is 6-8 months.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Basic Python?
If one programming language can be considered beginner-friendly, it is Python. Its syntax is easy to understand and implement, making the journey easy for novice programmers. If you’re a complete beginner, learning the fundamentals of Python can take you about six weeks.
You must know that although fairly easy, understanding the basics isn’t a straightforward process. You’ll need to devote a good amount of time to practicing and understanding how certain concepts work.
Let’s go ahead and look at the fundamental concepts to cover while beginning your Python journey.
- Variables
- Data types
- Python functions
- Objects and Classes
- Web Scraping
- Lists and Tuples
- Indexing
- APIs
Remember, to learn Python, it is important to get a stronghold of the fundamentals. Learning these concepts will help you understand how the language works, allowing you to start performing a range of programming tasks.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Expert in Python?
Becoming an expert in Python is dependent on a bunch of factors. If you’re already familiar with the basics of Python, it will take you 6-8 months to become an expert and perform advanced programming tasks. If you’re a complete beginner with no programming experience, becoming an expert will take you 10-12 months, provided you devote time every day towards learning and practicing.
After having covered the fundamentals of Python, below are the concepts you should cover to become an expert in Python.
- Python Libraries
- Lambda Function and other advanced Python functions
- Polymorphism Concepts
- Map Function
- Exception Handling
- Collections
- Decorators
- Generators
- Threading
- Magic Methods
- Multiprocessing
- Dunder Methods
Thoroughly understanding these above concepts will stand you in good stead to perform advanced programming tasks in Python.
Can You Learn Python on Your Own?
Given the readability and simplicity of the syntax, it is possible to start learning Python on your own. Python’s massive and active user community can help you with your questions if you get stuck while learning.
If you want to pick up Python to crack Python coding interviews at tech companies, enrolling for a course is highly recommended, mostly because of the competition for top Python jobs.
If you’re wondering how long it’d take you to learn Python and reach a level where you can crack Python coding interviews, 6-8 months is a good estimate.
Here are some resources to help you learn Python:
- How to Run a Python Script
- Python Exit Commands
- How to Read and Write Files in Python
- Understanding the Map() Function in Python
- Format Function in Python
- What Is defaultdict in Python?
- Filter() in Python
- Convert Integer to String in Python
- How to Find the Length of a String in Python
Head over to our Learn page for more information.
Factors That Influence Your Python Learning Curve
How fast you can learn Python will depend on a few fundamental factors. Here are some factors that significantly influence your Python learning curve.
- Your knowledge and experience with programming
- Your approach to learning Python
- The time you’re ready to devote
Let’s look at how these factors influence how long it takes to learn Python.
Your Knowledge and Experience With Programming
One factor that tremendously influences how quickly you can learn Python is your experience with programming.
Knowing how programming works in general - language syntaxes, data types, variables - can accelerate the pace of your learning. If you’re already adept with another programming language, an OOP language in specific, you can learn Python within 2-3 months and develop the ability to start coding applications and software in Python. Note that Python has perhaps the simplest syntax compared to other programming languages, making it easier to learn Python within 2-3 months if you have sufficient programming experience.
Your Approach to Learning Python
Your approach to learning is another factor that significantly influences how long it takes to learn Python. If your programming experience isn’t adequate, the best way to learn Python is to enroll in a good programming course, watch videos on the internet, or use a good resource that can teach you the fundamentals and beyond.
If you have no prior programming experience and start learning Python from scratch, a good programming course can help you learn Python in about 5-6 months.
The Time You Can Devote to Learning Python
The amount of time you devote every day is a key determinant of how quickly you can learn Python. Learning programming, any language for that matter, takes a good 2-4 months, even if you’re an experienced programmer. Without prior programming experience, it can easily take 8-10 months to pick up a language.
As a beginner, if you can spare 2 hours every day, adopt a proper approach, and enroll in a good resource, you can learn Python and get good at it in about 5-6 months. If you cannot consistently spend 2 hours a day, the time taken to learn Python would typically hover in the range between 8-10 months - this essentially implies that it would take you that long to start performing advanced programming tasks in Python.
The above three aspects determine how soon or quickly you can learn Python. Note that it all comes down to how much time you’re ready to spend every day.
To give you a quick refresher, as a coder with previous programming experience, you’d ideally take 3-4 months to learn Python by devoting at least 2 hours a day to code and learn. If you’re a beginner and have a good learning strategy in place, you’d take anywhere between 6-8 months to learn Python.
Uses of Python — What Can You Do With It
Python allows programmers to perform tasks across multiple disciplines. Some major tasks that can be performed using Python include -
- Predictive analytics
- Statistical analysis
- Automation of processes and tasks
- Data visualization
- Machine Learning codes
- Scripting
- Website development
- Application development
Most of these tasks require you to know Python at an advanced level.
Average Salaries of Python-based Jobs
Good Python developers often land high-paying jobs in different fields. Let’s look at the average salary of roles that are largely based on Python.
Easy Tips to Learn Python
Let’s look at some compelling tips that will help you learn Python (from beginner to advanced) and perhaps master the language.
- Code for 2 hours every day. Being consistent is key to learning the language.
- Join a Python community to discuss learnings, clarify doubts, and get your questions answered. There are good active communities in Reddit, Quora, and Discord.
- Focus on getting the logic right more than focusing on the syntax.
- Read-up popular books in Python depending on your level of expertise and the goals you’ve set for yourself.
- Enroll in a good Python course.
- Solve coding problems in Python. Use platforms like Leetcode to expose yourself to different types of coding problems.
FAQs on How Long It Takes to Learn Python
Q1. How long does it take to learn Python if you are a beginner with no programming experience?
If you’re a beginner with no programming experience, it will take you 6-8 months to learn Python if you have a good learning strategy in place and you’re consistent with your strategy.
Q2. How long will it take to learn Python if you have prior experience with Object-Oriented programming?
If you’re an experienced programmer ready to spend a couple of hours every day consistently, you can learn Python within 2-3 months.
Q3. What are the important coding topics to prepare to solve Python coding interview questions in technical interviews?
The important coding topics to prepare include - Arrays, Strings, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Recursion, Greedy Algorithms, and Dynamic Programming.
Q4. What factors influence your Python learning curve?
Your experience with programming, the approach you take to learning, and the amount of time you can devote to learning are the most important factors that influence your Python learning curve.
Q5. What key tasks and programming activities can you perform after you learn Python?
With Python, you can perform - Data Visualization, Track Data Metrics, Machine Learning, Statistical Analysis, Web Development, and Application Development.
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