Python Essentials

Interacting with the help subsystem

Python's interactive help utility provides a great deal of useful information about modules, classes, functions, and objects. The help system is an environment that is distinct from Python's REPL; it provides distinct prompts to make this clear.

There are three help modes, each with its unique prompt:

• We'll see the help> prompt from the Python help environment. When we evaluate the help() function with no argument value, we'll enter Python's help environment. We can enter different subjects and read about various Python features. When we enter quit as a topic, we'll return to the REPL.
• Using Windows, we'll see the -- More -- prompt: When we evaluate something like help(int) in a Windows environment, the output ...