4. The Interpreter

The evaluation loop, frames, stack-based execution, bytecode instructions, function and method calls, attribute lookup, exceptions, generators, coroutines, pattern matching, comprehensions, and closures.

13 items

Chapter Title
27 Evaluation Loop
28 Frames
29 Stack-Based Execution
30 Bytecode Instructions
31 Function Calls
32 Method Calls
33 Attribute Lookup
34 Exception Handling
35 Generators
36 Coroutines and Async
37 Pattern Matching
38 Comprehensions
39 Closures and Cells
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

27. Evaluation Loop

The main evaluation loop in Python/ceval.c, opcode dispatch via computed gotos, and the eval breaker mechanism.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

28. Frames

PyFrameObject and _PyInterpreterFrame layout, frame creation, the frame stack, and frame introspection.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

29. Stack-Based Execution

The value stack, operand push/pop discipline, and how the interpreter maintains stack depth invariants.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

30. Bytecode Instructions

Catalogue of CPython opcodes: LOAD/STORE variants, binary ops, comparison, jumps, and call instructions.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

31. Function Calls

CALL opcode mechanics, positional and keyword argument handling, *args/**kwargs unpacking, and call overhead.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

32. Method Calls

LOAD_METHOD and CALL_METHOD optimization, bound method objects, and the method cache.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

33. Attribute Lookup

LOAD_ATTR bytecode, __getattribute__ dispatch, the descriptor protocol, and type version tag caching.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

34. Exception Handling

Exception tables, the try/except/finally bytecode pattern, exception chaining, and the unwinding protocol.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

35. Generators

Generator object internals, YIELD_VALUE and RESUME opcodes, and frame suspension and resumption mechanics.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

36. Coroutines and Async

async def, await, SEND opcode, coroutine wakeup, and how asyncio integrates with CPython's coroutine machinery.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

37. Pattern Matching

match/case compilation to MATCH_* opcodes, pattern semantics, and guard evaluation in the interpreter.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

38. Comprehensions

How list/dict/set comprehensions and generator expressions compile to nested code objects with implicit iteration.
cpython python internals interpreter
Deep Reads › CPython Internals › 4. The Interpreter ›

39. Closures and Cells

MAKE_CELL, LOAD_DEREF, STORE_DEREF opcodes and the PyCellObject that captures variables in enclosing scopes.
cpython python internals interpreter