13 Lesser‑Known Python Features You Should Know

Python is a top programming language with many hidden capabilities. This article shares thirteen lesser‑known features that can make your code more concise and powerful.

1. List Stepping The step parameter can slice a list and also reverse it.

<code># List Stepping
data = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]
print(data[::2])   # [10, 30, 50]
print(data[::3])   # [10, 40]
print(data[::-1])  # [50, 40, 30, 20, 10]
</code>

2. find() Method Returns the index of a substring within a string.

<code># Find method
x = "Python"
y = "Hello From Python"
print(x.find("Python"))   # 0
print(y.find("From"))     # 6
print(y.find("From Python")) # 6
</code>

3. iter() Function Creates an iterator from an iterable, allowing manual traversal with next() .

<code># iter()
values = [1, 3, 4, 6]
values = iter(values)
print(next(values))  # 1
print(next(values))  # 3
print(next(values))  # 4
print(next(values))  # 6
</code>

4. Doctest Enables embedded tests in docstrings and reports results.

<code># Doctest
from doctest import testmod

def Mul(x, y) -> int:
    """
    >>> Mul(4, 5)
    20
    >>> Mul(19, 20)
    380
    """
    return x * y

testmod(name='Mul', verbose=True)
</code>

5. yield Statement Works like return but pauses function execution, producing a generator.

<code># Yield statement
def func():
    print(1)
    yield 1
    print(2)
    yield 2
    print(3)
    yield 3

for _ in func():
    pass  # outputs 1, 2, 3
</code>

6. Handling Missing Dictionary Keys Use dict.get() to avoid KeyError .

<code># Handling missing keys
dict_1 = {1: "x", 2: "y"}
# print(dict_1[3])  # raises KeyError
print(dict_1.get(3))  # None
</code>

7. for/else and while/else The else block runs only when the loop finishes without break .

<code># for/else example
for x in range(5):
    print(x)
else:
    print("Loop Completed")

# while/else with break (else not executed)
i = 0
while i < 5:
    break
else:
    print("Loop Completed")
</code>

8. Named String Formatting Use str.format() or f‑strings to inject values.

<code># Named formatting
a = "Python"
b = "Job"
string = "I looking for a {} Programming {}".format(a, b)
print(string)  # I looking for a Python Programming Job

# f‑string
string = f"I looking for a {a} Programming {b}"
print(string)
</code>

9. Setting Recursion Limit Adjust Python's maximum recursion depth.

<code># Set recursion limit
import sys
sys.setrecursionlimit(2000)
print(sys.getrecursionlimit())  # 2000
</code>

10. Conditional Expression Ternary operator for inline conditional assignment.

<code># Conditional expression
x = 5 if 2 > 4 else 2  # 2
print(x)
y = 10 if 32 > 41 else 24  # 24
print(y)
</code>

11. Argument Unpacking Use * and ** to expand iterables and dictionaries into function arguments.

<code># Argument unpacking
def func(x, y):
    print(x, y)
list_1 = [100, 200]
dict_1 = {'x': 300, 'y': 400}
func(*list_1)   # 100 200
func(**dict_1) # 300 400
</code>

12. Hello World Shortcut Importing the special __hello__ module prints a greeting.

<code>import __hello__
</code>

13. Multi‑Line Strings without Triple Quotes Use backslashes to continue a string across lines.

<code># Multi‑line string
str1 = "你是否正在寻找免费的Python学习材料" \
       "欢迎来到 " \
       "公众号 快学Python"
print(str1)
</code>

These examples demonstrate how Python’s less‑frequently used features can simplify common tasks and enhance code readability.