Summary

In this chapter, we saw the basics of using Python to access data available on the WWW. We used the HTTP protocol and the FTP protocol to transfer files around. We can use HTTPS and FTPS to assure that our data is kept secret.

We looked at using RESTful web services to gather data from information sources that have a defined API. RESTful web services are available for many kinds of data. They allow us to gather and analyze data from a variety of sources without a lot of tedious, error-prone pointing and clicking.

We also saw how to work with the various Python collections: lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets. This gives us ways to capture and manage larger collections of information.

We looked at the JSON notation for Python objects. This is a handy way to transmit objects through the WWW. It's also handy for saving objects locally on our personal computer.

In the next chapter, we'll look at how we can work with image files. These are a bit more complex than JSON files,...