What is PEP 8?

[sakshisukla]

PEP 8 (Python Enhancement Proposal 8) is the official style guide for writing Python code. It provides a set of recommendations to improve code readability, maintainability, and consistency across Python projects. PEP 8 was authored by Guido van Rossum, Barry Warsaw, and Nick Coghlan and is widely adopted by the Python community.

Key Guidelines of PEP 8:​

1. Indentation: Use four spaces per indentation level. Avoid using tabs for indentation.
2. Maximum Line Length: Limit each line to 79 characters for better readability.
3. Blank Lines: Use blank lines to separate functions and classes.
4. Imports: Place all import statements at the beginning of the file, and follow the order: standard libraries, third-party modules, and local application imports.
5. Whitespace Usage: Avoid excessive spaces in expressions and statements. For example, use x = y + 2 instead of x = y + 2.
6. Naming Conventions:
   • Use lowercase with underscores for function and variable names (my_function).
   • Use PascalCase for class names (MyClass).
   • Use UPPER_CASE for constants (MY_CONSTANT).
7. Comments: Use comments to explain complex code, and use docstrings for functions and classes.
8. String Quotes: Use single (') or double (") quotes consistently throughout the code.
9. Exception Handling: Use try-except blocks properly and handle exceptions gracefully.

Following PEP 8 ensures that code is clean, easy to understand, and maintainable. It is essential for teams working on collaborative Python projects and helps developers avoid common coding errors.


If you want to master PEP 8 and write high-quality Python code, consider enrolling in a Python certification course to improve your skills and industry credibility.