What is PEP 8 and why does it matter?

PEP 8, or Python Enhancement Proposal 8, is the style guide for Python code. It provides conventions on how to format Python code for maximum readability and consistency across various projects. Following PEP 8 is important as it promotes best practices, improves code quality, and makes code understandable for other developers. This helps in maintaining a uniform style throughout a codebase, especially in collaborative environments where multiple people contribute to the same project.

# Example of PEP 8 style guide recommendations:
def example_function(param1, param2):
    """A simple example function following PEP 8 guidelines."""
    if param1 > param2:
        return param1
    return param2