About NumPy =========== `NumPy `__ is the fundamental package needed for scientific computing with Python. This package contains: - a powerful N-dimensional :ref:`array object ` - sophisticated :ref:`(broadcasting) functions ` - basic :ref:`linear algebra functions ` - basic :ref:`Fourier transforms ` - sophisticated :ref:`random number capabilities ` - tools for integrating Fortran code - tools for integrating C/C++ code Besides its obvious scientific uses, *NumPy* can also be used as an efficient multi-dimensional container of generic data. Arbitrary data-types can be defined. This allows *NumPy* to seamlessly and speedily integrate with a wide-variety of databases. NumPy is a successor for two earlier scientific Python libraries: NumPy derives from the old *Numeric* code base and can be used as a replacement for *Numeric*. It also adds the features introduced by *Numarray* and can also be used to replace *Numarray*. NumPy community --------------- Numpy is a distributed, volunteer open-source project. *You* can help us make it better; if you believe something should be improved either in functionality or in documentation, don't hesitate to contact us --- or even better, contact us and participate in fixing the problem. Our main means of communication are: - `scipy.org website `__ - `Mailing lists `__ - `Numpy Trac `__ (bug "tickets" go here) More information about the development of Numpy can be found at http://scipy.org/Developer_Zone If you want to fix issues in this documentation, the easiest way is to participate in `our ongoing documentation marathon `__. About this documentation ======================== Conventions ----------- Names of classes, objects, constants, etc. are given in **boldface** font. Often they are also links to a more detailed documentation of the referred object. This manual contains many examples of use, usually prefixed with the Python prompt ``>>>`` (which is not a part of the example code). The examples assume that you have first entered:: >>> import numpy as np before running the examples.