Getting Started with Python & Turtle

This lesson introduces what programming and Python are, shows how the Turtle graphics library works, and gives two easy ways to run Turtle code: using the playground on this site (no install), or running Python on your computer.

What is Python?

Python is a simple, widely used programming language that's great for beginners. The Turtle library is built into Python and makes visual programming easy by letting you control a "turtle" that draws as it moves.

Running Python code

  • To keep things simple, you can just use the playground on this site: the editor here runs code in your browser so you do not need to install anything. It's the easiest way to try examples and follow along.
  • If you want to run Python on your computer (good for saving files and projects): install Python and run scripts locally. See the setup steps in the Python beginner course: Python Beginner Intro/Setup

Your first Turtle program

Try this simple example in the playground or save it as turtle1.py and run it locally.

import turtle

screen = turtle.Screen()
screen.title("My First Turtle")

t = turtle.Turtle()
t.forward(50)
t.left(90)
t.forward(50)

turtle.done()

What this does:

  • import turtle loads the Turtle library.
  • Screen() opens a drawing window.
  • Turtle() creates the pen (the turtle) you control.
  • forward and left move the turtle and draw lines.
  • turtle.done() keeps the window open until you close it.

Note: When using the Python playground on this site, you don't need screen = turtle.Screen() or turtle.done(), this is just used when running the code on your own computer.