2.7 Formatting code

Python code formatting enhances readability and maintainability. Consistent spacing, indentation, and line breaks make code easier to understand. These practices help developers quickly grasp code structure and logic.

Multi-line strings and parentheses for long statements improve code organization. Tools like syntax highlighting, linting, and automated formatters further boost code quality. Following style guides ensures uniformity across projects.

Formatting Code for Readability

Consistent spacing for readability

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Use spaces around operators (

+

,

-

,

*

,

/

,

=

,

<

,

>

,

==

,

!=

) and after commas to improve readability in Python code Spaces should be added after commas in lists, tuples, and function arguments to visually separate elements Indent code blocks consistently, typically using 4 spaces per indentation level, which is crucial in Python as it defines code blocks and helps visually distinguish nested code blocks Add blank lines to separate logical sections of code, grouping related statements or functions, which improves code organization and enhances overall readability

Multi-line strings with implicit joining

Python allows implicit line joining within parentheses

()

, brackets

[]

, and braces

{}

, enabling long strings to be split across multiple lines without using the line continuation character

\

The string will be automatically concatenated by the interpreter, maintaining a readable format by avoiding excessively long lines Example:

long_string = (
    "This is an example of a very long string "
    "that spans across multiple lines using [implicit joining](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:Implicit_Joining). "
    "The string parts will be automatically concatenated."
)

Parentheses for multi-line statements

Surround multi-line statements with parentheses

()

to improve readability, which is applicable to statements such as

if

,

while

,

for

,

with

, and function definitions Place the opening parenthesis at the end of the first line and the closing parenthesis on a separate line, indenting the content within the parentheses for visual clarity Example:

if (
    score > 90 and
    grade == 'A' and
    attendance >= 0.95
):
    print("Excellent performance!")

Using parentheses for multi-line statements enhances code organization and makes the structure more apparent, improving overall readability and maintainability of the codebase

Code Style and Formatting Tools

• Adhering to a consistent code style (such as PEP 8 for Python) improves readability and maintainability
• Many integrated development environments (IDEs) offer syntax highlighting, which visually distinguishes different parts of the code (e.g., keywords, variables, strings) to enhance readability
• Code folding allows developers to collapse and expand sections of code, making it easier to navigate large files
• Linting tools help identify potential errors, style violations, and other issues in the code
• Automated code formatting tools can be used to enforce consistent styling across a project