\chapter{Top-level components\label{top-level}}The Python interpreter can get its input from a number of sources:from a script passed to it as standard input or as program argument,typed in interactively, from a module source file, etc. This chaptergives the syntax used in these cases.\index{interpreter}\section{Complete Python programs\label{programs}}\index{program}While a language specification need not prescribe how the languageinterpreter is invoked, it is useful to have a notion of a completePython program. A complete Python program is executed in a minimallyinitialized environment: all built-in and standard modules areavailable, but none have been initialized, except for \module{sys}(various system services), \module{__builtin__} (built-in functions,exceptions and \code{None}) and \module{__main__}. The latter is usedto provide the local and global namespace for execution of thecomplete program.\refbimodindex{sys}\refbimodindex{__main__}\refbimodindex{__builtin__}The syntax for a complete Python program is that for file input,described in the next section.The interpreter may also be invoked in interactive mode; in this case,it does not read and execute a complete program but reads and executesone statement (possibly compound) at a time. The initial environmentis identical to that of a complete program; each statement is executedin the namespace of \module{__main__}.\index{interactive mode}\refbimodindex{__main__}Under \UNIX, a complete program can be passed to the interpreter inthree forms: with the \programopt{-c} \var{string} command line option, as afile passed as the first command line argument, or as standard input.If the file or standard input is a tty device, the interpreter entersinteractive mode; otherwise, it executes the file as a completeprogram.\index{UNIX}\index{command line}\index{standard input}\section{File input\label{file-input}}All input read from non-interactive files has the same form:\begin{productionlist} \production{file_input} {(NEWLINE | \token{statement})*}\end{productionlist}This syntax is used in the following situations:\begin{itemize}\item when parsing a complete Python program (from a file or from a string);\item when parsing a module;\item when parsing a string passed to the \keyword{exec} statement;\end{itemize}\section{Interactive input\label{interactive}}Input in interactive mode is parsed using the following grammar:\begin{productionlist} \production{interactive_input} {[\token{stmt_list}] NEWLINE | \token{compound_stmt} NEWLINE}\end{productionlist}Note that a (top-level) compound statement must be followed by a blankline in interactive mode; this is needed to help the parser detect theend of the input.\section{Expression input\label{expression-input}}\index{input}There are two forms of expression input. Both ignore leadingwhitespace.The string argument to \function{eval()} must have the following form:\bifuncindex{eval}\begin{productionlist} \production{eval_input} {\token{expression_list} NEWLINE*}\end{productionlist}The input line read by \function{input()} must have the following form:\bifuncindex{input}\begin{productionlist} \production{input_input} {\token{expression_list} NEWLINE}\end{productionlist}Note: to read `raw' input line without interpretation, you can use thebuilt-in function \function{raw_input()} or the \method{readline()} methodof file objects.\obindex{file}\index{input!raw}\index{raw input}\bifuncindex{raw_input}\withsubitem{(file method)}{\ttindex{readline()}}
\chapter{Top-level components\label{top-level}}
The Python interpreter can get its input from a number of sources:
from a script passed to it as standard input or as program argument,
typed in interactively, from a module source file, etc. This chapter
gives the syntax used in these cases.
\index{interpreter}
\section{Complete Python programs\label{programs}}
\index{program}
While a language specification need not prescribe how the language
interpreter is invoked, it is useful to have a notion of a complete
Python program. A complete Python program is executed in a minimally
initialized environment: all built-in and standard modules are
available, but none have been initialized, except for \module{sys}
(various system services), \module{__builtin__} (built-in functions,
exceptions and \code{None}) and \module{__main__}. The latter is used
to provide the local and global namespace for execution of the
complete program.
\refbimodindex{sys}
\refbimodindex{__main__}
\refbimodindex{__builtin__}
The syntax for a complete Python program is that for file input,
described in the next section.
The interpreter may also be invoked in interactive mode; in this case,
it does not read and execute a complete program but reads and executes
one statement (possibly compound) at a time. The initial environment
is identical to that of a complete program; each statement is executed
in the namespace of \module{__main__}.
\index{interactive mode}
\refbimodindex{__main__}
Under \UNIX, a complete program can be passed to the interpreter in
three forms: with the \programopt{-c} \var{string} command line option, as a
file passed as the first command line argument, or as standard input.
If the file or standard input is a tty device, the interpreter enters
interactive mode; otherwise, it executes the file as a complete
program.
\index{UNIX}
\index{command line}
\index{standard input}
\section{File input\label{file-input}}
All input read from non-interactive files has the same form:
\begin{productionlist}
\production{file_input}
{(NEWLINE | \token{statement})*}
\end{productionlist}
This syntax is used in the following situations:
\begin{itemize}
\item when parsing a complete Python program (from a file or from a string);
\item when parsing a module;
\item when parsing a string passed to the \keyword{exec} statement;
\end{itemize}
\section{Interactive input\label{interactive}}
Input in interactive mode is parsed using the following grammar:
\begin{productionlist}
\production{interactive_input}
{[\token{stmt_list}] NEWLINE | \token{compound_stmt} NEWLINE}
\end{productionlist}
Note that a (top-level) compound statement must be followed by a blank
line in interactive mode; this is needed to help the parser detect the
end of the input.
\section{Expression input\label{expression-input}}
\index{input}
There are two forms of expression input. Both ignore leading
whitespace.
The string argument to \function{eval()} must have the following form:
\bifuncindex{eval}
\begin{productionlist}
\production{eval_input}
{\token{expression_list} NEWLINE*}
\end{productionlist}
The input line read by \function{input()} must have the following form:
\bifuncindex{input}
\begin{productionlist}
\production{input_input}
{\token{expression_list} NEWLINE}
\end{productionlist}
Note: to read `raw' input line without interpretation, you can use the
built-in function \function{raw_input()} or the \method{readline()} method
of file objects.
\obindex{file}
\index{input!raw}
\index{raw input}
\bifuncindex{raw_input}
\withsubitem{(file method)}{\ttindex{readline()}}