Input and Output in Python

When learning Python, one of the most exciting moments is when your code starts interacting with you — asking questions, taking answers, and responding back. This magic is done through input and output in Python.

In this post, we’ll explore how to:

• Display messages using print()
• Take input from the user using input()
• Format output in clean and professional ways
• Practice with real-life examples

Let’s dive into the conversation between you and your code!

What is Output in Python?

Output simply means showing something on the screen.

In Python, we use the built-in function print() to display output.

Basic Syntax:

print("Hello, SmartTejas!")

print("Hello, SmartTejas!")

This will show:

Hello, SmartTejas!

You can also print numbers and variables:

name = "Tejas"
age = 29

print(name)
print(age)

name = "Tejas"
age = 29

print(name)
print(age)

Output:

Tejas
29

Also Read: Python Variables and Data Types

Printing Multiple Items

You can print multiple items by separating them with commas.

name = "Tejas"
age = 29

print("Name:", name, "Age:", age)

name = "Tejas"
age = 29

print("Name:", name, "Age:", age)

This will print:

👉 Python automatically adds a space between each item.

Formatting Output

Want your output to look cleaner or more professional? You can format strings using f-strings, which were introduced in Python 3.6.

Using f-strings:

name = "Raj"
marks = 87.5

print(f"{name} scored {marks} marks in the exam.")

name = "Raj"
marks = 87.5

print(f"{name} scored {marks} marks in the exam.")

Output:

Raj scored 87.5 marks in the exam.

This is very useful when combining text with variables.

What is Input in Python?

Now let’s make the program ask you something.

We use the input() function to take input from the user. This input is always taken as a string.

Basic Example:

name = input("Enter your name: ")
print("Hello", name)

name = input("Enter your name: ")
print("Hello", name)

When this runs, the user sees:

👉 Remember: Input is always a string.
Even if the user enters a number, it will be stored as text. You’ll need to convert it using int() or float().

Converting Input to Numbers

Example: Add Two Numbers

num1 = input("Enter first number: ")
num2 = input("Enter second number: ")

# Convert to integers
num1 = int(num1)
num2 = int(num2)

total = num1 + num2
print("The sum is:", total)

num1 = input("Enter first number: ")
num2 = input("Enter second number: ")

# Convert to integers
num1 = int(num1)
num2 = int(num2)

total = num1 + num2
print("The sum is:", total)

If the user enters 10 and 20, the output will be:

The sum is: 30

Without conversion, it would have joined the strings like:

1020

So type conversion is important for numerical operations.

Real-Life Example: Student Report Card

name = input("Enter student name: ")
math = float(input("Enter marks in Math: "))
science = float(input("Enter marks in Science: "))

average = (math + science) / 2

print(f"\nStudent: {name}")
print(f"Average Marks: {average}")

name = input("Enter student name: ")
math = float(input("Enter marks in Math: "))
science = float(input("Enter marks in Science: "))

average = (math + science) / 2

print(f"\nStudent: {name}")
print(f"Average Marks: {average}")

Sample Output:

Use \n and \t for Formatting

These are escape characters that help improve the look of your output.

• \n → New line
• \t → Tab space

Example:

print("Subject\tMarks")
print("Math\t90")
print("Science\t85")

print("Subject\tMarks")
print("Math\t90")
print("Science\t85")

Output:

Subject Marks
Math    90
Science 85

Quick Practice Challenge

Write a program that:

1. Asks the user for their name
2. Asks for two numbers
3. Prints a greeting and the product of the numbers

Hint:

• Use input()
• Convert to int or float
• Use f-strings to format output

FAQs – Input and Output in Python

Summary

Mastering input and output is like learning how to talk to your code. It’s the foundation of every interactive program you’ll build in Python.

What’s Next?

In the next post, we’ll learn about the Operators in Python