Python includes many useful tools, but sometimes your program needs something that is not included with Python itself. pip is the standard package installer used to add Python packages to your environment.

This lesson follows OSPython.009: Virtual Environments. A virtual environment gives a project its own space; pip lets you install the packages that project needs inside that space.

The Basic Command

Suppose a Python project needs the popular requests package. In a terminal, you can install it with:

python -m pip install requests

python -m pip tells the selected Python interpreter to run pip. install tells pip what action to perform, and requests is the package name.

Use the Package

After installation, a program can import the package:

import requests

print(requests.__version__)

The important beginner idea is the sequence: install first, import second.

Video: Installing Python Packages With pip

This tutorial demonstrates downloading and installing Python packages with pip. Watch it after trying the basic command above.

See What Is Installed

python -m pip list

This displays packages installed in the current Python environment. If you activated a virtual environment first, the list reflects that environment.

Remove a Package

python -m pip uninstall requests

pip will ask for confirmation before removing the package.

Gaming Example

Imagine you are building a simple game utility that needs a package another developer created. Instead of copying that developer’s files into your project manually, pip can install the package into your Python environment.

Bitcoin Example

A small Bitcoin-related Python project might use an external package to make a web request to a public data service. pip handles installing that package; your Python code then imports it when needed.

Practice

1. Activate a practice virtual environment from the previous lesson.
2. Run python -m pip list.
3. Install requests with python -m pip install requests.
4. Run python -m pip list again and find requests.
5. Create a short Python file that imports requests and prints its version.

Key Takeaway

pip installs and manages Python packages. A virtual environment keeps a project’s packages separate, while pip adds the specific packages that project needs.