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Python Turtle Cheat Sheet

🐢 Here’s a complete Turtle cheat sheet suitable for both beginners and advanced users – regardless of age. It covers everything: from basic functions through colors, shapes and loops to events, coordinates, animations and complex drawings.

🐢 Python Turtle Cheat Sheet – Complete & In-Depth
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📦 Import Module & Setup
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import turtle

t = turtle.Turtle()       # Create turtle
screen = turtle.Screen()  # Window object
screen.bgcolor("white")   # Background color
t.speed(0)                # Speed (0 = fast, 10 = slow)

🧭 Movement & Position
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Method Description Example
forward(x) Moves x pixels forward t.forward(100)
backward(x) Moves x pixels backward t.backward(50)
right(angle) Turns right (degrees) t.right(90)
left(angle) Turns left (degrees) t.left(45)
goto(x, y) Jumps to position (x, y) t.goto(0, 0)
setpos(x, y) Alias for goto() t.setpos(-100, 100)
setheading(angle) Set heading direction (0 = right) t.setheading(180)
circle(radius) Draws a circle t.circle(50)
home() Return to start position t.home()
position() Returns current position t.position()
heading() Returns current direction t.heading()

✏️ Pen Control
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Method Description Example
penup() Lift pen (no drawing) t.penup()
pendown() Put pen down (drawing active) t.pendown()
pensize(x) Set pen width t.pensize(3)
pencolor("color") Set pen color t.pencolor("blue")
fillcolor("color") Set fill color t.fillcolor("yellow")
begin_fill() Start filling t.begin_fill()
end_fill() End filling t.end_fill()
clear() Clear drawing t.clear()
reset() Reset everything t.reset()
write(text) Write text t.write("Hello")

🐢 Turtle Properties
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Method Description Example
shape("form") Shape of turtle ("turtle", "arrow", "circle", "square", "triangle", "classic") t.shape("turtle")
speed(x) Speed (0–10, “fastest”) t.speed("fastest")
hideturtle() Hide turtle t.hideturtle()
showturtle() Show turtle t.showturtle()
window_width() Window width screen.window_width()
window_height() Window height screen.window_height()

🎨 Colors
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t.color("red")              # Pen color
t.fillcolor("yellow")       # Fill color
t.color("blue", "green")    # Pen and fill color simultaneously

✅ Supports color names, hex codes ("#FF0000"), RGB tuples ((1, 0, 0))

🔁 Loops & Patterns
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for i in range(36):
    t.forward(100)
    t.right(170)

✅ Creates a cool spiral pattern

🧮 Coordinates & Geometry
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x, y = t.position()
angle = t.heading()
t.setpos(x + 50, y - 50)

✅ Use position() and heading() for dynamic drawings

🎮 Events & Interactivity
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def turn_left():
    t.left(30)

screen.listen()
screen.onkey(turn_left, "Left")
Event Method Description
onkey(func, key) React to key press
onclick(func) React to mouse click
onkeypress(func, key) React to pressed key
listen() Activate key recognition

⏱️ Animation & Timing
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def draw():
    t.forward(10)
    screen.ontimer(draw, 100)

draw()

✅ Use ontimer() for animations or repeated actions

📦 Multiple Turtles
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t1 = turtle.Turtle()
t2 = turtle.Turtle()

t1.color("blue")
t2.color("green")

✅ You can create and control as many turtles as you want

🧠 Example Project: Star Pattern
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import turtle

t = turtle.Turtle()
t.speed(0)
t.color("purple")

for i in range(100):
    t.forward(i * 5)
    t.right(144)

turtle.done()

✅ Draws a beautiful star with growing size

🧹 Finishing & Cleanup
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turtle.done()     # Keep window open
screen.bye()      # Close window

🎓 Summary
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Category Most Important Methods/Functions
Movement forward(), backward(), right(), left(), goto()
Drawing penup(), pendown(), begin_fill(), end_fill()
Colors color(), fillcolor(), pencolor()
Shapes shape(), circle(), write()
Control speed(), hideturtle(), showturtle()
Events onkey(), onclick(), listen()
Animation ontimer(), clear(), reset()
Alstergymnasium Python turtle