What is python?

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question, but here it goes. I'm thinking about taking a python class. What exactly is python? What is it good for?

It's a snake :wink:

It's a scripting language. I think these two links describe it well.

http://www.python.org/doc/Summary.html

http://www.python.org/doc/essays/comparisons.html

yeah its a programming lanuage like C++, Java and pearl