Style

PEP 8: The Full Style Guide Explained PEP 8, formally known as “Style Guide for Python Code,” is the foundational document for Python code style. Authored by Guido van Rossum, Barry Warsaw, and Nick Coghlan, it provides a set of conventions and best practices designed to improve the readability and consistency of Python code. The rationale is that code is read far more often than it is written. Adhering to a common style guide allows developers to focus on what the code does, rather than deciphering how it’s structured. While PEP 8 is not an unbreakable law—there are times when practicality beats purity—its guidelines are the standard for the vast majority of Python projects and are enforced by the tools discussed later in this chapter.