How do you create a virtual environment in Python using the venv module?

Last update on August 12 2023 10:04:08 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Creating Python virtual environments with venv module

To create a virtual environment in Python using the 'venv' module, follow these steps:

Open a Terminal or Command Prompt: First, open a terminal or command prompt on your operating system.
Navigate to the Project Directory (Optional): Change your working directory to the location where you want to create the virtual environment. Creating the virtual environment in the same directory as your project is an optional step, but it is a good practice.
Create the Virtual Environment: Run the following command to create a virtual environment using the 'venv' module:

On Windows:

python -m venv testenv

On macOS and Linux:

python3 -m venv testenv

Here, 'testenv' is the name of the virtual environment. You can choose any suitable name for your environment

Activate the Virtual Environment:

On Windows:

myenv\Scripts\activate

On macOS and Linux:

source myenv/bin/activate

After activation, the name of the virtual environment ('myenv' in this case) will appear at the beginning of the command prompt, indicating that the virtual environment is now active.

When the virtual environment is active, any Python packages you install will be installed in this environment. Any Python commands you run will use the Python interpreter in this environment.

Deactivate the Virtual Environment (Optional):

You can use the 'deactivate' command to exit the virtual environment and return to the system's global Python environment:

deactivate

Once deactivated, the virtual environment name disappears from the command prompt.