What does the '+' operator represent in Python?

In Python, the '+' operator serves a dual purpose, meaning it can represent both addition and concatenation depending on the context in which it is used. When applied to numeric types, it performs arithmetic addition, summing two numbers together to yield a numerical result. For instance, using '+' with two integers like 2 and 3 would return 5.

Conversely, when the '+' operator is used with strings, it concatenates them, effectively joining the two strings together. For example, if you have the strings "Hello" and "World", using '+' would produce "HelloWorld". This flexibility makes the '+' operator one of the fundamental operators in Python, allowing it to handle different data types seamlessly.

Understanding the context is crucial because the same operator can have different meanings based on the operands involved. Thus, the '+' operator is appropriately characterized as representing both addition and concatenation in Python.