Learn Python 3

Build practical Python programs and beginner projects.

Duration 24h Rating (4.6) Price Free plan available on Codecademy
Created by Alisha Grama
Platform: Codecademy Topic: Programming Languages Skills: Python

Learn Python 3 on Codecademy is a beginner-focused programming course that introduces Python 3 fundamentals—syntax, control flow, data structures, and functions—through interactive lessons and guided examples. The instructional team pairs step-by-step exercises with an AI Learning Assistant so learners can practice writing runnable code and complete portfolio-style projects.

The course suits complete beginners, career changers, and professionals who want to automate tasks or build simple applications, using quizzes and hands-on projects to measure progress. Completing the course lets learners demonstrate practical Python skills and optionally earn a certificate of completion to showcase their work.

At a Glance

Learn Python 3 is a beginner-focused programming course on Codecademy that introduces core Python syntax, data structures, control flow, and functions through guided exercises and projects.

The course is developed and taught by an instructional team led by Alisha Grama and emphasizes hands-on practice and AI-assisted feedback to build practical coding skills.

Level Beginner
Rating 4.6 out of 5
Duration 20+ hours
Languages English
Learners 3M+ learners
Certificate Certificate of completion (paid plan required)
Access Access while your subscription is active
Course includes
  • 14 lessons
  • 14 projects
  • 13 quizzes
  • AI Learning Assistant (guided feedback)
  • Certificate of completion
Price Subscription-based; monthly or annual plans (paid tiers unlock certificates and extra features)

What This Course Teaches

The course frames outcomes as measurable competencies: learners complete guided exercises and projects that demonstrate practical Python 3 abilities such as program construction, data manipulation, and reusable function design. By course end, learners should be able to build Python 3 programs, apply code-simplification and refactoring techniques, and transfer those skills to independent projects outside the platform.

Write Python Programs
Build complete Python 3 programs that perform I/O, calculations, and control-flow-driven behavior.
Simplify Code
Apply refactoring and simplification techniques to make code clearer and more maintainable.
Apply Skills Off-Platform
Transfer course projects into independent scripts or small programs that run outside the learning environment.

How the Course Is Structured

Learn Python 3 is organized as a sequence of modular lessons that together form a beginner-focused pathway; the syllabus lists 14 discrete modules and blends concept instruction with hands-on projects and quizzes. The full course is designed to be completed in roughly 24 hours of guided work, paced by the learner across the 14 modules.

Curriculum overview

01 Hello World

Introduces basic Python syntax and program structure with a hands-on example.

  • Project: point-of-sale system for a furniture store
02 Control Flow

Covers conditional statements (if, else, elif), boolean variables, and logical operators.

  • Practice project: Magic 8-Ball
03 Lists

Introduces lists as an ordered data structure and common list operations for storing groups of values.

04 Loops

Teaches repetition constructs (for and while loops) and patterns for iterating over collections.

05 Functions

Covers defining and calling functions to enable code reuse and modular program design.

  • Exercise: implement functions for example physics formulas
06 Python: Code Challenges (Optional)
  • Optional code challenge to test and reinforce concepts
07 Strings

Explains the Python string object and common operations for creating and manipulating text data.

  • Practice project: Block Letters (ASCII art initials)
  • Practice project: Receipts for Lovely Loveseats (string and numeric operations)
08 Dictionaries

Introduces dictionaries for key-value storage and common access/manipulation patterns.

09 Files

Shows how to read from and write to files to persist and load program data.

10 Modules & Packages

Covers organizing code into modules and using packages from the standard library.

11 Object-Oriented Programming

Introduces classes and objects to model data and behavior in reusable abstractions.

12 Errors & Exceptions

Explains common error types and how to handle exceptions for more robust programs.

13 Projects

Guided and independent projects that consolidate course concepts into portfolio-ready work.

14 Wrap-up

Final reflections, next steps for continued learning, and information about the certificate of completion.

Audience & Requirements

Learn Python 3 targets beginners and early-career learners who want a practical, project-driven introduction to Python for scripting, basic software tasks, and data handling.

The course is suitable for people who need hands-on practice writing runnable Python programs and building small portfolio projects without prior programming experience.

Who It's For
  • Complete beginners starting a programming journey or exploring coding as a new skill.
  • Career changers preparing for junior developer, QA, or analyst roles that use Python.
  • Professionals seeking to automate tasks or perform basic data manipulation with Python scripts.
  • Students and hobbyists who want guided projects to build a small portfolio.
What You'll Need
  • No prerequisites — the course is designed for learners with no prior programming experience.
  • Optional: a local Python interpreter and code editor (e.g., VS Code) to run exercises off-platform.
  • Optional: willingness to use the platform’s interactive, AI-assisted coding environment for guided feedback.

Final Verdict

Learn Python 3 is a practical, project-driven introduction that reliably teaches core Python skills through guided exercises, quizzes, and portfolio-style projects; combined with platform features like AI-assisted feedback and broad learner adoption, it represents a dependable choice for beginners and career switchers looking for structured, hands-on practice. Overall, it is a strong, practical starting point for learners who want to build runnable Python programs and small portfolio pieces.

Because the course is delivered on a subscription platform with an optional paid certificate, it is most cost-effective for learners who plan to use the platform beyond a single course or who value the certificate and AI tools; self-directed learners who only want a quick, low-cost tutorial might prefer standalone resources instead.