What is a Python virtual environment

A Python virtual environment is a self-contained directory that allows you to install packages and dependencies for a specific project without affecting the global Python installation. It helps to manage project-specific libraries and ensures that projects remain isolated from each other, preventing version conflicts.

Virtual environments are created using the `venv` or `virtualenv` modules and are essential for maintaining clean and efficient development practices.

# To create a virtual environment python -m venv myenv # To activate the virtual environment (Windows) myenv\Scripts\activate # To activate the virtual environment (Linux/Mac) source myenv/bin/activate # To install packages (while in the activated virtual environment) pip install package_name # To deactivate the virtual environment deactivate

Python virtual environment venv virtualenv package management project isolation dependency management