Reference to Python Keywords

Python includes a set of reserved words called keywords that are essential to writing programs. These words have special meanings and cannot be used as names for variables, classes, functions, or other identifiers. The Python interpreter relies on these keywords to understand and structure the code.

This guide provides a complete and up-to-date list of all Python reserved and soft keywords, serving as a definitive reference for developers.

Alphabetical Reference

The following table lists all 35 Python keywords in alphabetical order.

35 Python Keywords
Keyword Description
and A logical operator
as Creates an alias
assert For debugging
async Define asynchronous functions
await Suspend or pause the execution of asynchronous functions to perform the awaited operation
break To break out of a loop
class To define a class
continue Unlike break, continues to the next iteration in the loop
def Define a function with this keyword
del Delete an object with this keyword
elif Short for else if, used in conditional statements
else Used in conditional statements
except Used with exceptions, what to do when an exception occurs
False Boolean value, used for comparison operations
finally Used with exceptions, executes a block even with exception
for To create a for loop
from To import specific parts of a module
global Declares a global variable
if Makes a conditional statement
import Imports a module
in It checks if a value is present in a list, tuple, etc.
is To test if two variables refer to the same object
lambda Creates an anonymous function
None Represents a null value
nonlocal Declares a non-local variable
not A logical operator
or A logical operator
pass A null statement, a statement that will do nothing
raise Raises an exception
return To exit a function and return a value
True Boolean value, used for comparison operations
try Used with except statement
while Creates a while loop
with Used to simplify exception handling
yield Produces a value from a generator, suspending function state

Dynamically Get All Python Keywords

In Python programming, you can dynamically retrieve the complete list of keywords using simple scripts. Below are two methods to obtain all the reserved keywords available in the Python language.

Use the following code snippet to get the up-to-date collection of Python reserved words.

Method 1

Python Code
Code Output
Copy
import keyword

# Get the list of all keywords
python_keywords = keyword.kwlist

print(python_keywords)

Method 2

Python Code
Code Output
Copy
Input "keywords" upon prompt
# Get a complete keyword list
help() # Run this command

# Upon Prompt
help> keywords

Python Soft Keywords List

Certain Python reserved words, called soft keywords, are reserved only in specific contexts and available from Python 3.10 onward. Below is the list of these context-sensitive soft keywords.

4 Python Soft Keywords
Keyword Description
_ A placeholder variable in Python
match A pattern matching expression that allows handling of complex conditional statements
case Used within the match to define specific patterns
type Used for type hinting to get data types of function parameters

Dynamically Get All Python Soft Keywords

Use the following code snippet to get the up-to-date collection of soft keywords.

Get Soft-Keywords

Python Code
Code Output
Copy
# Get soft keywords list with null safety
import keyword

soft_keywords = getattr(keyword, 'softkwlist', None)
if soft_keywords is not None:
    print(soft_keywords)
else:
    print("Soft keywords list not available in this Python version.")