Checking your Python version on Ubuntu is similar to other operating systems by running the command python --version or python -V.
Check Ubuntu Python Version
This section will guide you through the process of checking the Python version using the Terminal Command method. 🖥️
Terminal Command
To check the Python version in your Ubuntu system, simply open the terminal and run the following command:
python --version
Or, you can also use the alternative command:
python -V
This command will display the default Python version being used by your system. For instance, you might see an output like this:
Python 2.7.15
In some cases, you might have multiple Python versions installed on your system. To check the Python 3 version, use this command:
python3 --version
The output will show the Python 3 version number:
Python 3.8.10
If you want to see all the Python versions installed on your system, you can use the whereis command as follows:
whereis python
This command will list the paths to all Python versions available, making it easy to manage multiple installations. 💼
Python 2 Vs Python 3
Python 2 and Python 3 are two major versions of the popular programming language, Python. The last version of Python 2 was 2.7, and it has now been discontinued in favor of Python 3, which introduced many improvements and new features. In most cases, newer projects should use Python 3, while maintaining compatibility with Python 2 if necessary.
One key difference is the print function: in Python 2, print is a statement, whereas in Python 3, it is a function. This may seem like a small change, but it exemplifies the overall shift from Python 2 to Python 3. Other notable differences include changes to the way strings are handled, new syntax and language features, and improved libraries.
In Ubuntu, the system may come with both Python 2 and Python 3 pre-installed. To check which version of Python is currently being used on Ubuntu, you can use the command python -V for Python 2, or python3 -V for Python 3. Keeping track of the specific version is important for assuring compatibility between projects and environments.
With the sunsetting of Python 2, many libraries and projects now focus their support on Python 3. However, some projects may still require Python 2.7 compatibility. It’s possible to switch between the two versions as needed by specifying the python or python3 command when running scripts or using virtual environments to manage different versions.
Using the Sys Module
The sys module in Python allows you to access system-specific parameters and functions. One common use for this module is to check the Python version on your Ubuntu system. In this section, we’ll focus on using the sys module to retrieve Python version information.
Version Info
To obtain the Python version information, you can use the version_info object in the sys module. It provides a tuple containing the major, minor, and micro version numbers of the Python interpreter.
Here’s an example of how to use sys.version_info:
import sys
major_version = sys.version_info.major
minor_version = sys.version_info.minor
micro_version = sys.version_info.micro
print(f"Python version: {major_version}.{minor_version}.{micro_version}")
This code snippet will output the Python version in a readable format, such as Python version: 3.9.2.
Using version_info ensures that you’ll receive accurate and reliable information about the current Python version. This method is generally preferred over parsing the sys.version string, as it offers a more structured output 🌟.
Installing and Updating Python
Install Python 2 on Ubuntu
To install Python 2 on your Ubuntu system, you can use the apt install python2 command. Open the terminal window and execute the following command:
sudo apt install python2 -y
This will install the default Python 2 version available in the repository 📦. You can then verify the installation by checking its version:
python2 -V
Remember that Python 2 is no longer maintained, so it’s recommended to use Python 3 for your projects.
Update Python 3 on Ubuntu
Ubuntu comes with a default Python 3 installation. To update it to a newer version, you will need to add a new repository, such as the deadsnakes PPA. This repository contains multiple Python 3 versions, such as 3.9, which you can install by following these steps 💡:
- Add the deadsnakes PPA: Open the terminal window and run the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
- Update the software list: To make sure your system knows about the new repository, update the list by running:
sudo apt update
- Install the desired Python version: In this example, we will install Python 3.9. Execute the following command:
sudo apt install python3.9
This will install Python 3.9 alongside your default Python 3 version.
- Test the new version: Check the newly installed Python version by running:
python3.9 --version
Now you have multiple Python versions installed on your Ubuntu system!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I verify my Python version in Ubuntu terminal?
To verify the Python version in the Ubuntu terminal, simply type the following command and press Enter: python3 -V. This will display the version of Python currently installed on your system. ✅
What is the command to check Python version in Linux?
The command to check the Python version in Linux is the same as in Ubuntu: python3 -V. Just open the terminal, type the command, and press Enter to see your Python version. 🐍
How do I find out if Python is installed on Ubuntu?
To find out if Python is installed on Ubuntu, open the terminal and type python3 -V. If Python is installed, this command will display the version. If it’s not installed, you might see an error message or a prompt to install Python. 🖥️
How do I identify the current Python version on Ubuntu?
Identifying the current Python version on Ubuntu is as simple as typing python3 -V in the terminal. Press Enter, and the terminal will display your Python version. 🔍
What’s the easiest way to see all installed Python versions on Ubuntu?
To see all installed Python versions on Ubuntu, you can use the command apt list --installed | grep python. This will display a list of all Python-related packages installed on your system, including different Python versions. 📃
How can I upgrade my Python version on Ubuntu?
Upgrading your Python version on Ubuntu can be done by updating your package list with sudo apt update, followed by installing a newer Python version using sudo apt install python3.x, where “x” is the desired version number. Make sure to check the official Python website for the latest version number before proceeding. ⬆️