Difference between Python 2 and Python 3

From the time Python was first released till now it has come with variant and advanced versions. Every version is better than earlier. In this section, we are going to review the Difference between Python 2 and Python 3.

For better understanding of Python 2 and Python 3 version have a look on these tables.

Basic Difference:

Python 2Python 3
Python 2 version was released in 2000.Python 3 version was released in December 2008.
It implemented technical details
of the Python Enhancement Proposal (PEP).		The main purpose of this version release is
to fix problems, exist in Python 2 version.
Python 2 syntax is comparatively
difficult to understand.		Python 3 syntax is simpler and
easily understandable.
In Python 2 version development process of
code was easier than the versions released before.		To make the inversion process easy in Python 3,  
some features of Python 3 have been
backported to Python 2.x versions.

Basis of Comparison:

There are some basis of comparison, Python 2 and Python 3 are divided among these point.

Comparison is given below:

Basis of comparisonPython 2Python 3
Syntax
Syntax of Python 2 was difficult to understand.Syntax is easily
understandable and simple.
Iteration
Range() is used for iterations in
Python 2.		Range() function used
to perform iterations.
Function printprint “hello”print (“hello”)
Rules of ordering ComparisonsThe rules, given for ordering comparison
are very complicated.		The Rules of ordering
comparisons are simplified.
ExceptionsIn this exceptions should be enclosed
in notations.		In this exceptions should be enclosed
in parenthesis.
Division of IntegersIt always gets an integer value,
When two integers are divided.		Always get a float value,
When two integers are divided.
Backward compatibilityPython version 3 is not compatible
with Python 2.		It is never reliable to port python 2
to python 3 version.
Leak of variablesThe value of the global variable will change while using it inside for-loop.The value of variables never changes.
LibraryMany older libraries created for Python 2 is not forward-compatible.Many recent developers are creating libraries which you can only use with Python 3
Unicode
To store Unicode string value, you require to define them with “u”.In Python 3, default storing of strings is Unicode.

Example Code:

Let’s view some example codes for better understanding of difference between Python 2 and Python 3.

Python 2 codePython 3 code
#python2
def main():
print “Python 2 version!”
if name == “main”:
main()		#python3
def main():
print(“Python 3 version!”)
if name == “main”:
main()