Why is parenthesis in print voluntary in Python 2.7?

In Python 2.x print is actually a special statement and not a function*.

This is also why it can’t be used like: lambda x: print x

Note that (expr) does not create a Tuple (it results in expr), but , does. This likely results in the confusion between print (x) and print (x, y) in Python 2.7

(1)   # 1 -- no tuple Mister!
(1,)  # (1,)
(1,2) # (1, 2)
1,2   # 1 2 -- no tuple and no parenthesis :) [See below for print caveat.]

However, since print is a special syntax statement/grammar construct in Python 2.x then, without the parenthesis, it treats the ,‘s in a special manner – and does not create a Tuple. This special treatment of the print statement enables it to act differently if there is a trailing , or not.

Happy coding.

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*This print behavior in Python 2 can be changed to that of Python 3:

from __future__ import print_function