October 13, 2024

Python Tutorials

Eel in Python

Eel is a Python library that simplifies the process of building simple desktop applications with web technologies. It allows you to create a desktop GUI using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while leveraging Python for backend logic. This guide will cover the basics of using Eel to create a simple desktop application.

1. Installing Eel

You can install Eel via pip. Open your terminal and run:

pip install eel

2. Basic Structure of an Eel Application

An Eel application consists of three main components:

  • Python Code: Handles the backend logic and exposes functions to the front end.
  • HTML/CSS/JavaScript: Defines the front end of the application.
  • Eel Initialization: Initializes the Eel library and starts the application.

2.1 Creating a Simple Eel Application

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a basic Eel application:

2.1.1 Create a Python File

# app.py
import eel

# Initialize Eel
eel.init('web')

# Define a function that will be called from JavaScript
@eel.expose
def say_hello(name):
    print(f"Hello, {name}!")

# Start the application
eel.start('index.html')

2.1.2 Create the HTML File





    
    
    Eel App


Welcome to Eel

2.1.3 Run the Application

To run the application, execute the Python file:

python app.py

Your default web browser will open with the application, where you can enter a name and click the button to see the result in the terminal.

3. Communicating Between Python and JavaScript

Eel allows you to call Python functions from JavaScript and vice versa. You use the @eel.expose decorator to expose Python functions to JavaScript. In the front end, you call these functions using the eel.function_name() syntax.

4. Advanced Features

  • Custom Window Options: You can customize the window size, title, and other options by passing arguments to eel.start().
  • Asynchronous Functions: Eel supports asynchronous functions, allowing you to perform non-blocking operations.
  • Static Files: Eel can serve static files like CSS and JavaScript, making it suitable for more complex applications.

5. Summary

Eel is a powerful library that enables you to build desktop applications using web technologies and Python. By combining HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the front end with Python for backend logic, Eel provides an easy way to create interactive applications. The library supports communication between Python and JavaScript, allowing for a rich development experience.

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