When working with Python, you may come across references to “pip” and “pip3.” These two terms might seem interchangeable, but they are actually different tools that serve different purposes. In this article, we will explore the differences between pip and pip3 and why understanding those differences can be important for your Python projects.
What is pip?
Pip is a package installer for Python. It is a tool that you can use to install and manage third-party packages or modules. Python packages are collections of modules and libraries that you can use to extend the functionality of Python. Pip makes it easy to install these packages and manage their dependencies.
Pip comes pre-installed with Python versions 3.4 and later. It is also available as a separate tool that you can install for earlier versions of Python.
Why is pip important?
Pip is an essential tool for Python developers because it simplifies the process of installing and managing Python packages. Using pip, you can easily install popular packages like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. You can also install less familiar packages that add specific functionality to your projects.
Pip also makes it easy to manage different versions of Python packages. If you have multiple projects that use different versions of the same package, pip can help you keep track of those versions and ensure that your projects run smoothly.
What is pip3?
Pip3 is simply the version of Pip that is designed to work with Python 3.x. Pip3 is a replacement for the earlier tool “easy_install” and is the recommended way to install Python packages on Python versions 3.3 and later.
While pip3 does the same thing as pip – namely, installing and managing Python packages – it is designed to work exclusively with Python 3.x, so you cannot use it with Python 2.x.
Why is pip3 important?
As stated earlier, pip3 is the recommended tool for installing Python 3.x packages. If you are using Python 3.x, then you should use pip3 to install and manage packages. Using pip3 ensures that your packages are installed with the correct version of Python and that there are no conflicts with other packages or dependencies.
Pip3 also makes it easy to manage different versions of the same package. If you need to use different versions of a package in different projects, pip3 can help you keep those versions separate and avoid any conflicts.
What are the key differences between pip and pip3?
Pip and pip3 are very similar tools, but there are a few key differences that you should be aware of:
1. Python version compatibility: Pip is designed to work with both Python versions 2.x and 3.x, while pip3 is designed to work exclusively with Python 3.x. This means that you cannot use pip3 to install packages for Python 2.x, and you cannot use pip to install packages for Python 3.x.
2. Command line arguments: While most of the commands used with pip and pip3 are the same, there are some differences in the command line arguments. For example, with pip3, you can use the “-m” flag to specify a package module, while with pip, you must use the “-e” flag.
3. Python version resolution: When installing packages, pip and pip3 use different mechanisms to determine the correct version of Python to use. Pip3 always uses the version of Python that you used to execute the pip3 command. Pip, on the other hand, uses a more complex mechanism to determine the correct version of Python. This means that pip may sometimes make assumptions about the Python version that you intend to use, which could lead to errors or conflicts.
Which one should you use – pip or pip3?
The answer to this question depends on which version of Python you are using. If you are using Python 2.x or earlier, then you should use pip to install and manage packages. If you are using Python 3.x, then you should use pip3.
If you are not sure which version of Python you are using, you can check by typing “python” or “python3” in the terminal. If “python” starts a Python 2.x interpreter, and “python3” starts a Python 3.x interpreter, then you should use pip or pip3 accordingly.
Final thoughts
In summary, pip and pip3 are similar tools that allow you to easily install and manage Python packages. The main difference between the two tools is their compatibility with different versions of Python.
When working in a Python 3.x environment, it is important to use pip3 to avoid compatibility issues and conflicts with other packages. Make sure to always use the correct tool for the version of Python that you are using to ensure that your projects run smoothly.