Exploring Python Libraries: Built-in and Third-Party Solutions

In Python, the terms "module" and "library" are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different concepts. Understanding the distinction between them can help clarify the structure and organization of Python code.

Modules

A module in Python is a single file (or files) that is intended to be imported and used in your scripts. Modules are a way of organizing code by functionality, making it easier to maintain and reuse. They can contain definitions of functions, classes, and variables that you can use once you import them into your code.

Examples:

math.py can be a module with various mathematical functions;
my_module.py can be a user-defined module with custom functions and classes.

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# Assuming we have a module named `my_module.py` 
# with a function `greet`
import my_module

my_module.greet("World")

Libraries

A library in Python is a collection of modules. Libraries are broader collections that provide functionalities and tools to perform a variety of tasks. Libraries are often more extensive and can include multiple modules, each with specific functionalities.

Examples:

Standard Library: the collection of modules and packages that come pre-installed with Python (e.g., math, os, sys);
Third-Party Libraries: libraries that are not included in the standard library but can be installed via package managers like pip (e.g., numpy, pandas, requests).

Key Differences:

	Module	Library
Scope	A single file containing Python code.	A collection of modules that provide a wide range of functionalities.
Usage	Typically used for smaller, more specific sets of functionality.	Used when a broader set of tools and functionalities are needed.
Complexity	Generally simpler and smaller in scope.	More complex, encompassing multiple modules and potentially more features.

Taak

Swipe to start coding

Create a Python script that generates and visualizes a sine wave. This exercise will demonstrate the use of the numpy library for numerical operations and matplotlib for plotting graphs.

Don't worry, you don't need to know math 😉, but just how to import and use libraries and modules.

Ensure you have numpy and matplotlib installed in your Python environment;
Uses numpy to generate an array of values representing time (t) from 0 to 2π (inclusive), using a suitable step to ensure smoothness of the sine wave;
Calculates the corresponding sine values for each time point;
Uses matplotlib to plot time on the X-axis and sine values on the Y-axis;
Enhances the plot with a title, and labels for X and Y axes.

Oplossing

import numpy as np

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# Generate time points

t = np.linspace(0, 2 * np.pi, 100) # 100 points from 0 to 2π

# Compute sine values

sine_values = np.sin(t)

# Create a plot

plt.figure(figsize=(10, 5))

plt.plot(t, sine_values, label='Sine Wave')

plt.title('Sine Wave from 0 to 2π')

plt.xlabel('Time (radians)')

plt.ylabel('Sine value')

plt.legend()

plt.grid(True)

plt.show()

Was alles duidelijk?

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Sectie 1. Hoofdstuk 4

import ___ as np

import ___.___ as plt

# Generate time points

t = ___.linspace(0, 2 * ___.pi, 100) # 100 points from 0 to 2π

# Compute sine values

sine_values = ___.sin(t)