Naming Convention in Python Programming

Python Basic Concepts

What is Naming Conventions

In Python programming, naming conventions are set of rules for choosing the valid name to be used for variable, package, module, class and function in a python program.

Naming Conventions rules for Variables, Packages, Modules and Functions (Methods) are:

• It should begin with an alphabet.
• It should be written in lowercase.
• There may be more than one alphabet, but without any spaces between them.
• Digits may be used but only after alphabet.
• No special symbol can be used except the underscore (_) symbol. When multiple words are needed, an underscore should separate them.
• No keywords or command can be used.
• All statements in Python language are case sensitive. Thus a name A (in uppercase) is considered different from a name a (in lowercase).

Now let's see some examples for more understanding.

x     # x is a valid variable name because it starts with an alphabet x

total    # total is a valid variable name as there is no space between alphabets

ar15    # ar15 is a valid variable name as digits have been used after the alphabet
a6b2    # a6b2 is a valid variable name as digits have been used after the alphabet

total_cost     # total_cost is a valid variable name as there is an underscore
total cost     # total cost is an invalid variable name as there is a space
total-cost     # total-cost is an invalid variable name as there is a hyphen
total$         # total$ is an invalid variable name as there is a dollar symbol

for     # here for is an invalid variable name because it is a keyword in Python
if      # if is an invalid variable name because it is a keyword in Python
elif    # elif is an invalid variable name because it is a keyword in Python
while   # while is an invalid variable name because it is a keyword in Python

a     # a is a valid variable written in lowercase
A     # A is a valid variable written in uppercase so both are different variables

Naming Conventions rules for Classes are:

• It should begin with an uppercase letter.
• There may be more than one alphabet, but without any spaces between them.
• No special symbol can be used.
• No keywords or command can be used as a class or interface name.
• If the class name is more than one word then the first letter of each word should be written in uppercase and the rest of the letter should be written in lowercase.

Game                        # it is a valid 1 word class name
EmployeeInfo                # it is a valid 2 words class name
TotalCostPrice              # it is a valid 3 words class name
ServerNotActiveException    # it is a valid 4 words class name

Note: Python’s built-in classes are typically lowercase words. But user defined classes should follow the above naming rules.