16 Mind‑Blowing Python One‑Liners That Do Everything From Fractals to Fun

This article showcases sixteen concise Python one‑liners that produce graphics, solve classic algorithmic problems, and perform amusing tricks.

Mandelbrot Image

Generate a Mandelbrot fractal using a single line of Python code.

print('
'.join([''.join(['*' if abs((lambda a: lambda z,c,n: a(a,z,c,n))(lambda s,z,c,n: z if n == 0 else s(s,z*z+c,c,n-1))(0,0.02*x+0.05j*y,40)) < 2 else ' ') for x in range(-80,20)]) for y in range(-20,20)]))

Multiplication Table

Print the classic 9×9 multiplication table in a single line.

print('
'.join([' '.join(['%s*%s=%-2s' % (y, x, x*y) for y in range(1, x+1)]) for x in range(1,10)]))

Heart Shape

Draw a heart‑shaped pattern with a single line of code.

print('
'.join([''.join([('AndyLove'[(x-y)%8] if (x*0.05)**2+(y*0.1)**2-1)**3-(x*0.05)**2*(y*0.1)**3<=0 else ' ') for x in range(-30,30)]) for y in range(15,-15,-1)]))

Beautiful Spiral

Create a colorful spiral using the turtle module.

exec("""
from turtle import *
for i in range(500):
    forward(i)
    left(91)
""")

Prime Numbers

Print all prime numbers between 2 and 100 using a compact one‑liner.

print(' '.join([str(item) for item in filter(lambda x: not [x % i for i in range(2, x) if x % i == 0], range(2,101))]))

Fibonacci Sequence

Output the Fibonacci sequence with a single line of Python.

print([x[0] for x in [ (a[i][0], a.append([a[i][1], a[i][0]+a[i][1]])) for a in ([[1,1]],) for i in range(30)]])

One‑Line Quicksort

Implement the quicksort algorithm in a single lambda expression.

quickSort = lambda array: array if len(array) <= 1 else quickSort([item for item in array[1:] if item <= array[0]]) + [array[0]] + quickSort([item for item in array[1:] if item > array[0]])
array = [9,11,88,32,8]
print(quickSort(array))

Python Zen

Display the Zen of Python with a single import statement.

>> import this

Antigravity

Open the famous Python antigravity comic with one line.

import antigravity

One‑Line Web Server

Start a simple HTTP server on port 8080 with a single command.

python -m http.server 8080

Mini Slot Machine

Simulate a slot‑machine effect using random Unicode characters.

python -c "import random;p=lambda:random.choice('7♪♫♣♠♦♥◄☼☽');[print('|'.join([p(),p(),p()]), end='\r') for i in range(8**5)]"

N‑Queens Solver

List all 92 solutions to the classic 8‑Queens problem in one line.

[__import__('sys').stdout.write('
'.join('.'*i+'Q'+'.'*(8-i-1) for i in vec) + "
========
") for vec in __import__('itertools').permutations(range(8)) if 8 == len(set(vec[i]+i for i in range(8))) == len(set(vec[i]-i for i in range(8)))]

Flatten Multidimensional Array

Convert a nested list into a flat list with a single comprehension.

print([i for item in ab for i in item])
ab = [[1,2,3],[5,8],[7,8,9]]

Sum of Digits of 2ⁱ⁰⁰⁰

Calculate the sum of all decimal digits of 2 raised to the 1000th power.

print(sum(map(int, str(2**1000))))  # 1366

Happy Birthday One‑Liner

Generate a playful birthday greeting using a single line of Python.

print(list(map(lambda x: "Happy Birthday to " + ("you" if x % 2 != 0 else "DYW"), range(100))))