starting python depending on your platformyou might have multiple ways to start the command line here are the methods that are commonly availableselect the python (command-lineoption found in the python folder this option starts command-line session that uses the default settings open command prompt or terminaltype pythonand press enter use this option when you want greater flexibility in configuring the python environment using command-line switches locate the python foldersuch as :\python in windowsand open the python exe file directly this option also opens command-line session that uses the default settingsbut you can do things like open it with increased privileges (for applications that require access to secured resourcesor modify the executable file properties (to add command-line switchesno matter how you start python at the command lineyou eventually end up with prompt similar to the one shown in figure - (your screen may look slightly different from the one shown in figure - if you rely on platform other than windowsyou're using idle instead of the command-line version of pythonyour system is configured differently from mineor you have different version of python this prompt tells you the python versionthe host operating systemand how to obtain additional information figure - the python command prompt tells you bit about the python environment