What do numbers starting with 0 mean in python?

Question

When I type small integers with a 0 in front into python, they give weird results. Why is this?

>>> 011
9
>>> 0100
64
>>> 027
23

I'm using Python 2.7.3. I have tested this in Python 3.0, and apparently this is now an error. So it is something version-specific.

They are apparently still integers:

>>> type(027)
<type 'int'>

Answer 1

These are numbers represented in base 8 (octal numbers). Some examples:

Python 2 (old format)

Note: these forms only work on Python 2.x.

011 is equal to 1⋅8¹ + 1⋅8⁰ = 9,

0100 is equal to 1⋅8² + 0⋅8¹ + 0⋅8⁰ = 64,

027 is equal to 2⋅8¹ + 7⋅8⁰ = 16 + 7 = 23.

Python 3 (new format)

In Python 3, one must use 0o instead of just 0 to indicate an octal constant, e.g. 0o11 or 0o27, etc. Python 2.x versions >= 2.6 supports both the new and the old format.

0o11 is equal to 1⋅8¹ + 1⋅8⁰ = 9,

0o100 is equal to 1⋅8² + 0⋅8¹ + 0⋅8⁰ = 64,

0o27 is equal to 2⋅8¹ + 7⋅8⁰ = 16 + 7 = 23.