What is the output of the expression print(2 ** 2 ** 3)?

In evaluating the expression print(2 ** 2 ** 3), it's important to understand the order of operations in Python, particularly how exponentiation works.

Python’s exponentiation operator (**) is right associative. This means that when you have an expression with multiple exponentiation operators, it is evaluated from the right to the left.

Breaking it down step-by-step:

1. Start with the expression 2 ** 2 ** 3. According to the right associative nature of the exponentiation operator, you first compute 2 ** 3.

2. Calculate 2 ** 3, which equals 8.

3. Now, substitute that back into the original expression, changing it to 2 ** 8.

4. Finally, calculate 2 ** 8, which equals 256.

Thus, the final output of the expression is 256. Understanding this right-to-left evaluation of exponents is crucial in correctly interpreting such expressions in Python.