Python Fundamentals

Overview Learning objectives What you’ll learn Key facts Module listing FAQs What our customers say Get in touch

Course overview

For software testers looking to develop their programming knowledge, Python Fundamentals provides a practical introduction to reading and understanding code. This one-day course covers essential Python concepts, including variables, expressions, conditions, functions and loops. Through exercises using existing scripts, you'll examine how Python instructions work and practise making minor modifications, helping you become more familiar with the code you may encounter in technical environments.

Apply Python knowledge in software testing roles

If you work in software testing, understanding Python can help when examining existing scripts or discussing code with developers. This one-day introductory course gives you an opportunity to become more familiar with programming terminology and recognise common code structures. It can also help you assess whether more advanced Python training would be relevant to your professional development.

Learning objectives

Describe Python script structure and coding rules
Identify variables, literal values and data types
Deduce expression behaviour using Python operators
Interpret if statements and code blocks
Identify function calls and explain modules
Identify containers and their individual elements
Interpret the behaviour of Python loops
Identify access to object attributes and methods

What you’ll learn

The course is organised around the building blocks of Python, from basic syntax and data handling to functions, containers and objects. Each area uses existing code examples to demonstrate the concepts covered, with exercises that give you practical experience of examining and modifying scripts.

Understanding Python syntax, variables and data

Discover how Python scripts are structured, instructions are executed and information is stored and processed. You'll examine variables, data types, expressions and operators, alongside the basic principles of working with Python and Visual Studio Code. You'll also learn how Python uses lists, strings and dictionaries to organise information.

Conditions and control flow

Not every instruction in a Python script runs in every situation. You'll examine how the if statement determines which instructions are executed and how indentation defines code blocks. The course also covers while and for loops, showing how instructions can be repeated and how execution can be stopped early. By examining sample scripts, you'll practise identifying these structures and working out which instructions run under different conditions.

Working with functions, modules and objects

Learn how Python uses functions and modules to organise reusable instructions. You'll explore function calls, arguments and declarations, alongside how objects combine related data and functionality through attributes and methods. Understanding these programming structures can help you navigate existing Python scripts, recognise relationships between different sections of code and develop greater confidence when discussing technical behaviour with developers.

What’s included

Instructor-led Python Fundamentals training
Hands-on exercises and live labs
All relevant course materials

Key facts

Certification

This is a skills and knowledge-based course without formal accreditation.

Who it’s for

Technical professionals looking to understand Python scripts, interpret programming logic and develop foundational coding knowledge.

Prerequisites

No previous programming experience is required. Delegates should have basic computing skills, including navigating files, editing documents and using the web.

Exam information

There is no formal exam for this course

Optional extras

There are no optional extras with this course

Pre-course

No formal pre-course work is required

Full module listing

Dive into the detail of our Python Fundamentals course by looking at the syllabus below.

Day one

Session 1: INTRODUCTION

The anatomy of a computer – processor, memory, disk, stdin, stdout etc.
The types of instructions a computer can execute
What makes Python similar to and different from other languages
Statements, comments, and scripts
Some general rules of coding
Installing Python and Visual Studio Code

Session 2: VARIABLES

Why we need data in memory
Names for data in memory
Differentiating between names and literal values (data)
How names should be named
Names vs keywords
Basic data types
Copying data from disk into memory (and back again)
Reading data from stdin and writing data to stdout

Session 3: EXPRESSIONS

The computing of new values (information)
Operators and operands
Categories of operator
The order in which operators are evaluated

Session 4: CONDITIONS

Instructions that are executed only some of the time
Indenting and code blocks
The if statement

Session 5: FUNCTIONS

Don’t repeat yourself
Names for code in memory
Differentiating between variables and functions
Arguments
Function calls as expressions
Function declarations
Modules

Session 6: CONTAINERS

What to do when there is more than one of something
Lists
Strings
Dictionaries
Accessing a value inside a container (subscripting)
To modify or not to modify (mutability)

Session 7: LOOPS

Doing the same thing over and over
The while loop
The for loop
Breaking out early

Session 8: OBJECTS

Variables and functions grouped together
The dot notation
Attributes and methods
String methods
List methods
Other types of data (classes)

FAQs

How does Python fit into your development as a software tester? Whether you're new to programming or looking to build your technical knowledge, we've addressed some key questions about the course, its core focus and the skills you can expect to develop.

How could Python knowledge support my software testing work?

If your role involves reviewing Python scripts or collaborating with developers who use Python, familiarity with the language may be useful. The course introduces the terminology and coding structures you'll encounter when examining existing scripts, providing a starting point for further technical learning.

What is the difference between Python Fundamentals and our longer Python programming courses?

Python Fundamentals provides a broad introduction to coding concepts, focusing on understanding and modifying existing scripts. Our more comprehensive Python programming courses typically explore these concepts in greater depth and aim to develop independent coding skills. This introductory course can help you decide whether further Python programming study is right for you.

Which Python topics are covered in this introductory course?

The course covers the essential programming concepts needed to understand how Python scripts work. You'll explore how Python stores and processes information, makes decisions and controls the flow of instructions. You'll also examine how functions, loops and objects contribute to script behaviour, helping you develop the skills to interpret existing code and make minor modifications.

What our customers say

“John was good at explaining thing and made the course interesting also. I will definitely recommend the course.”

Prince Agyei Frimpong, TSG learner

“Brilliant and really engaging trainer with amazing communication skills. He managed to deliver the course and answer all of our questions with such clarity.”

Baha Aboukoura, TSG learner