How to Create a Virtual Environment in Python?

A virtual environment in Python is an isolated environment that allows you to install and manage packages separately from the global Python installation. This is particularly useful when working on multiple projects that require different dependencies. Below are the steps to create and activate a virtual environment in Python.

1. Prerequisites

Ensure that Python is installed on your system. You can check this by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

python --version

If Python is installed, it will display the version number. If not, you will need to install Python before proceeding.

2. Creating a Virtual Environment

You can create a virtual environment using the built-in venv module. Follow these steps:

2.1. On Windows

1. Open the Command Prompt.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the virtual environment.
3. Run the following command to create the virtual environment:

python -m venv myenv

This command creates a virtual environment named myenv in the current directory.

2.2. On macOS/Linux

1. Open the Terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the virtual environment.
3. Run the following command to create the virtual environment:

python3 -m venv myenv

This command creates a virtual environment named myenv in the current directory.

3. Activating the Virtual Environment

After creating the virtual environment, you need to activate it. The activation command differs depending on your operating system.

3.1. On Windows

myenv\Scripts\activate

After running this command, you should see the virtual environment’s name (e.g., (myenv)) before the command prompt, indicating that the environment is active.

3.2. On macOS/Linux

source myenv/bin/activate

After running this command, you should see the virtual environment’s name (e.g., (myenv)) before the command prompt, indicating that the environment is active.

4. Installing Packages in the Virtual Environment

Once the virtual environment is activated, you can install packages using pip, and they will be installed only within the virtual environment.

Example:

pip install requests

This command installs the requests package in the virtual environment.

5. Deactivating the Virtual Environment

When you’re done working in the virtual environment, you can deactivate it to return to the global Python environment.

To deactivate:

deactivate

After running this command, the prompt will return to its normal state, indicating that the virtual environment is no longer active.

6. Deleting a Virtual Environment

If you no longer need the virtual environment, you can delete the myenv directory from your file system to remove the environment completely.