Unlock Python’s hidden power!

12 Python Built-in Functions I Wish I Knew Earlier!

Discover 12 built-in functions that can make your coding life easier and more efficient.

Photo by Eduard Delputte on Unsplash

Python is packed with powerful built-in functions that can save time, reduce code complexity, and improve performance.

Many of these functions remain under-utilized, especially by beginners who often reinvent the wheel without realizing that Python already provides efficient solutions.

Here are 12 built-in Python functions that I wish I had discovered earlier in my journey!

1. enumerate() — Keep Track of Indexes

Instead of using a counter variable while looping through a list, enumerate() lets you iterate with both the index and value:

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
for index, fruit in enumerate(fruits, start=1):
    print(index, fruit)

Output:

1 apple  
2 banana  
3 cherry

This eliminates the need for manually maintaining an index variable!

2. zip() — Pair Up Data Easily