The following python cheat sheet for commonly used Python Turtle commands will get you up and running with Python Turtle quickly. Turtle is a fun program that dates all the way back to the 1960s when Seymour Papert and his colleagues at MIT created the programming language LOGO which could control a robot turtle with a physical pen in it. Today Turtle Graphics are most often associated with the Python programming language.
Python Turtle Commands
| import turtle | Import the turtle library |
| turtle_obj = Turtle() | Creates a new Turtle object and opens its window. |
| turtle_obj.home() | Moves turtle_obj to the center of the window and then points turtle_obj east. |
| turtle_obj.up() | Raises turtle_obj’s pen from the drawing surface. |
| turtle_obj.down() | Lowers turtle_obj’s pen to the drawing surface. |
| turtle_obj.setheading(degrees) | Points turtle_obj in the indicated direction, which is specified in degrees. East is 0 degrees, north is 90 degrees, west is 180 degrees, and south is 270 degrees. |
| turtle_obj.left(degrees) | Rotates turtle_obj to the left by the specified degrees. |
| turtle_obj.right(degrees) | Rotates turtle_obj to the right by the specified degrees. |
| turtle_obj.goto(x, y) | Moves turtle_obj to the specified position. |
| turtle_obj.forward(distance) | Moves turtle_obj the specified distance in the current direction. |
| turtle_obj.backward(distance) | Moves turtle_obj the specified distance in the reverse direction. |
| turtle_obj.pencolor(r, g, b) | Changes the pen color of turtle_obj to the specified RGB value |
| turtle_obj.pencolor(string) | Changes the pen color of turtle_obj to the specified RGB value to the specified string, such as “red”. Returns the current color of turtle_obj when the arguments are omitted. |
| turtle_obj.fillcolor(r, g, b) | Changes the fill color of turtle_obj to the specified RGB value |
| turtle_obj.fillcolor(string) | Changes the fill color of turtle_obj to the specified string, such as “red”. Returns the current fill color of turtle_obj when the arguments are omitted. |
| turtle_obj.begin_fill() | Enclose a set of turtle commands that will draw a filled shape using the current fill color. |
| turtle_obj.end_fill() | Enclose a set of turtle commands that will draw a filled shape using the current fill color. |
| turtle_obj.clear() | Erases all of the turtle’s drawings, without changing the turtle’s state. |
| turtle_obj.width(pixels) | Changes the width of turtle_obj to the specified number of pixels. Returns turtle_obj’s current width when the argument is omitted. |
| turtle_obj.hideturtle() | Makes the turtle invisible. |
| turtle_obj.showturtle() | Makes the turtle visible. |
| turtle_obj.position() | Returns the current position (x, y) of turtle_obj. |
| turtle_obj.heading() | Returns the current direction of turtle_obj. |
| turtle_obj.isdown() | Returns True if turtle_obj’s pen is down or False otherwise. |
Python Turtle Tutorials
Learn how to use all of the commands above in the following tutorials that have working Python example code and program results.
- Python Turtle Module Import
- How To Move The Python Turtle
- How To Change Python Turtle Direction
- How To Use Loops With Python Turtle
- Draw Turtle Shapes With Functions
- How To Use Variables In Python Turtle
- How To Draw Triangles In Python Turtle
- Change Pen Color In Python Turtle
- Draw Color Filled Shapes In Python Turtle
