Python in a Nutshell

Built-in Functions

This section documents the Python functions available in module __builtin__ in alphabetical order. Note that the names of these built-ins are not reserved words. Thus, your program can bind for its own purposes, in local or global scope, an identifier that has the same name as a built-in function. Names bound in local or global scope have priority over names bound in built-in scope, so local and global names hide built-in ones. You can also rebind names in built-in scope, as covered in Chapter 7. You should avoid hiding built-ins that your code might need.