Python Feature That 99% People Don’t Know

Have you heard of the walrus operator in Python? Chances are, if you’re part of the 99% of people who don’t know about it, you haven’t! The walrus operator, represented by “:=”, is a recent addition to Python (as of version 3.8) that allows you to assign values to variables within an expression.

For example, instead of writing:

x = 5
if x > 3:
print(x)

You can now use the walrus operator to condense this into:

if (x := 5) > 3:
print(x)

Not only does this make your code more concise, but it can also improve readability and efficiency. By assigning values within an expression, you avoid the need to repeat the same value multiple times.

So why is this feature so unknown to the majority of Python users? One possible reason is that it is a relatively new addition to the language and may not have been widely publicized. Additionally, many developers are resistant to change and may be hesitant to adopt new features until they become more mainstream.

Regardless of the reasons for its obscurity, the walrus operator is a powerful tool that can help streamline your code and make you a more efficient Python programmer. So next time you’re writing code, consider giving it a try and see how it can benefit your workflow!

Happy coding! 🐍