Python has evolved significantly over the years, with major updates introducing new features and improvements. Here's a concise overview of key differences between Python 2 and Python 3, along with recommendations for modern development.
📌 Version Overview
- Python 2: Released in 2000, deprecated in 2020.
- Python 3: First released in 2008, actively maintained and recommended for new projects.
📊 Major Differences
| Feature | Python 2 | Python 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Print Statement | print "Hello" (statement) |
print("Hello") (function) |
| Division Operator | / returns integer (e.g., 3/2 = 1) |
/ returns float (e.g., 3/2 = 1.5) |
| Unicode Support | Limited (requires explicit encoding) | Default support for Unicode |
| Syntax | Older syntax (e.g., xrange()) |
Updated syntax (e.g., range()) |
input() vs raw_input() |
input() reads as string |
input() directly evaluates input |
⚠️ Why Python 2 is Deprecated
Python 2 reached its end of life in 2020, meaning no further security updates or support.
✅ Recommended Python Versions
For new projects, use:
- Python 3.12 (latest stable release as of 2024)
- Python 3.8+ (for compatibility with modern libraries)
Python 2 is no longer supported, so migration to Python 3 is essential.
📚 Further Reading
For a deeper dive into Python versioning, visit our /learn/python_versions_guide page.
Stay updated! 🚀 Use Python 3 for future-proof development and access to the latest features.