13 Must‑Know Python Tricks to Boost Your Coding Efficiency

We all know Python is one of the most popular programming languages and a favorite among developers. In this article, I share thirteen practical Python tips that can help you in daily development, increase work efficiency, and save development time.

1. Pass Arguments

This technique lets you pass unlimited arguments to a function without declaring them.

# Pass Arguments
def Test_func(*numbers):
    mul = 1
    for n in numbers:
        mul = mul * n
    print(mul)
Test_func(1, 3, 4)  # 12

2. Smart List Iteration

Instead of a manual loop, you can use a list comprehension to apply a function to each element.

# Smart way to iterate
mylst = [11, 22, 33, 44, 55]
new = [x * 2 for x in mylst]
print(new)  # [22, 44, 66, 88, 110]

3. Shorter Library Names

Use aliasing to shorten long library names.

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
import tkinter as tk
import time as t

4. Pyforest

Pyforest allows you to use popular libraries without explicit imports.

# pip install pyforest
import pyforest
a = np.array([[1, 2], [3, 5]])

5. Multiple Input

Read several values from a single line.

# Take Multiple Input
data = input("Enter num with Spaces: ").split()
print(data)
# Input: 123
# Output: ['1', '2', '3']

6. Trim Data

Remove unwanted whitespace or characters from strings.

# Trim Data
data = "    Hello"
print(data.strip(" "))  # Hello
data = "    Hello Pythoneer"
print(data.lstrip(" "))  # Hello Pythoneer
data = "Hello Coder$$$"
print(data.rstrip("$"))  # Hello Coder

7. Runtime Error Handling

Use try/except to catch runtime errors.

# Handling Runtime Error
x = 6
try:
    if 5 > 3:
        x = x * y
    else:
        x = x + y
except:
    print("Y is not defined")
# Output: Y is not defined

8. Lambda Functions

Write small anonymous functions in one line.

# One liner functions
# example 1
mul = lambda x: x * 2
print(mul(3))  # 6
# example 2
mul = lambda x, y: x * y * 2
print(mul(1, 2))  # 4

9. Yield

Yield returns values from a generator without losing its state.

# Yield
def func():
    yield 1
    yield 2
    yield 3
    yield 4
for x in func():
    print(x)
# Output:
# 1
# 2
# 3
# 4

10. Local and Global Variables

Demonstrates declaring local and global variables inside functions.

# Local and Global Variables
# Local variables
a = 5
b = 6
# Global
def func():
    global a
    a = 6 * 2
    global a
    a = 0

11. Smart Dictionary Access

Use dict.get to avoid KeyError when accessing missing keys.

# Dictionary in Smart way
mydict = {"a": 10, "b": 20, "c": 30}
# Best way
mydict.get("d")  # None
# default way
mydict["d"]  # KeyError

12. Smart Data Swap

Swap two values without a temporary variable.

d1 = 55
d2 = 66
d2, d1 = d1, d2
print(d1, d2)  # 66 55

13. Division 2.0

Use divmod to obtain quotient and remainder simultaneously.

# Division
x = 5
y = 3
div = divmod(x, y)
print(div)  # (1, 2) -> (Quotient, Remainder)

These thirteen Python tricks can help improve your workflow and save development time.