What is Turtle?

Do you remember MS LOGO from your childhood? Turtle is almost the same!

Turtle is a pre-installed Python library that enables users to create a variety of shapes and patterns, just through the use of simple commands. Imagine Turtle as a playful pet turtle with a pen attached to it's shell. This spunky little artist scoots around a virtual canvas, leaving a trail of vibrant lies and intricate shapes. Turtle graphics is particularly useful for beginners as it is fun, interactive and provide instant visual feedbacks.

Getting Started

Installing Turtle

The beauty of Turtle is that it comes pre-installed in most Python environments. If you have Python installed in your system, you're ready to embark on your colourful journey.

Importing Turtle

To use the Turtle module, you need to import it into your Python script. Here’s how you can do it:

import turtle

Creating a Turtle Object

To unleash your potentials, you'll need a trusty companion: the Turtle itself. In order to create your own pet artist, you need to create an object, that will be doing all the drawings.

my_turtle = turtle.Turtle()

Basic Turtle Commands

Method	Description	Example
forward() or fd()	Moves the turtle forward by the specified distance	my_turtle.fd(100)
backward() or bk()	Moves the turtle backwards by specified distance	my_turtle.bk(100)
right() or rt()	Turns the turtle clockwise through a specific angle	my_turtle.rt(90)
left() or lt()	Turns the turtle anticlockwise through a specific angle	my_turtle.lt(90)
penup()	Picks up the turtle's pen	my_turtle.penup()
pendown()	Puts down the turtle's pen	my_turtle.pendown()
goto()	Moves the turtle to a specific coordinate(x,y)	my_turtle.goto(70,50)
home()	Returns turtle to starting position(0,0)	my_turtle.home()
color()	Changes the colour of the turtle's pen	my_turtle.color('blue')
fillcolor()	Specifies the colour to fill a polygon	my_turtle.fillcolor('red')
begin_fill()	Specifies the beginning position to fill a polygon	my_turtle.begin_fill()
end_fill()	Specifies the end position after filling a polygon	my_turtle.end_fill()
stamp()	Leaves a stamp of the turtle at the current location	my_turtle.stamp()
clear()	Clears the screen but leaves the turtle properties the same	my_turtle.clear()
reset()	Resets everything including the turtle's properties	my_turtle.reset()

How to Draw Two Parallel Lines

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.forward(150)
t.right(90)
t.penup()

t.forward(50)
t.right(90)

t.pendown()
t.forward(150)

How to Draw a Square

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.forward(100)
t.right(90)
t.forward(100)
t.right(90)
t.forward(100)
t.right(90)
t.forward(100)
t.right(90)

or by using a loop

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
for i in range(4):
    t.forward(100)
    t.right(90)

range() can be used to draw polygons with any number of sides. Just specify the number of sides within the range and change the right() or left() angle accordingly.

How to Draw a Star

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
for i in range(5):
    t.forward(100)
    t.right(144)

How to Fill a Shape

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.color('red')
for i in range(6):
    t.forward(100)
    t.right(60)
t.fillcolor('yellow')
t.begin_fill()
for j in range(6):
    t.forward(100)
    t.right(60)
t.end_fill()

How to Draw a Circle

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.circle(50)            #specify the diameter of the circle

How to Draw a Spiral

import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.speed(10)        #specifies the speed of the turtle
for i in range(100):
    t.forward(i * 3)
    t.right(90)

Conclusion

Turtle graphics is a wonderful way to get started with programming. It combines creativity with coding, making the learning process enjoyable and visually rewarding. As you become more comfortable with Turtle, you can explore its advanced features to create stunning and complex graphics.

For more information, visit: https://docs.python.org/3/library/turtle.html

Thank you for reading this blog. Hope you got to learn something new today! Have a wonderful day ahead!

Python's Turtle: A Place where Creativity meets Code

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